Lifelong Learning – A Local Case of Success Using Web Text-Based Discussion Forums

Abstract

Abstract. The work environments raise changes associated with both economic and social demand in an internationally competitive context. The focus of this paper is the perspectives of people, both employers and employees, who are engaged in lifelong e-learning, within the Portuguese economy. It critically reflects on recent experience at a small local institution considering whether complex state-of the art technology becomes a key to the development of lifelong learning practices in a knowledge-based society.Keywords: lifelong e-learning; distance learning; organizational context; case study; lecturing experience Introduction. The Internet has been identified as a potential enabler of lifelong learning. Web-based learning systems enable workers to participate in learning activities without the time and distance constrains. Lifelong learning provides the opportunity for the discussion and collaborative knowledge construction to enable learners in acquiring knowledge in the context of learning, working and collaboration associated with a positive evaluation of scientific/technical knowledge. This paper will examine the contribution of lifelong learning to organizational development, specifically in relation to e-learning courses by distance learning. In this context, lifelong elearning is used by employees to improve their current, or future, employment prospects as well as by employers as a way of improving their organizational performance. This paper draws on the first author's experience of e-teaching and of distance tutoring students who are in full time employment and critically reflects on the recent experience at a small local institution considering whether complex state-of the art technology becomes a key to the development of lifelong learning practices in a knowledge-based society. In the first part, the paper is theoretical in its orientation of lifelong education, whereas in the second part it makes an overview of the web text-based discussion forums lifelong learning system in use in the institution under study. The third and last part of the paper presents, discusses and assesses the findings related to the learners' opinions on a variety of aspects of their lifelong vocational training courses and explores the significance of the use of simple technology as to the meanings it may bring to the development of lifelong learning practices. What is lifelong learning? Smith and Spurling (1999) provided a simple definition of lifelong learning, that it relates to people learning consistently throughout their lifespan, covering all life from the cradle to the grave, and which may start at any age. Through lifelong learning the decision to study is much easier then more traditional