RTC's Fall 2017 Communicator

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4 FALL 2017
Study these notes on great educational sites
ONLINE LEARNING
IS SMART AT ANY AGE
1John B. Horrigan, Pew Research Center, “Lifelong Learning and Technology,”
“ L ive as if you were to die tomorrow.
Learn as if you were to live forever.”
This inspiring quote from Mahatma
Gandhi (1869-1948) points to the inher-
ent value of learning throughout our
lifetimes. While we sometimes associate
learning with our school years spent in
classrooms, in reality, most people are
lifelong learners who gain skills and
knowledge from a variety of sources.
Pew Research Center recently released
results from a study about lifelong learning.
The findings include the following:
• 73 percent of adults consider them-
selves lifelong learners.
• 74 percent of adults are personal
learners (those who participate in
activities to advance knowledge about
something that personally interests them).
• 63 percent of working adults are pro-
fessional learners (those who have
received training to improve their job
skills).1
The study reveals that people get a wide
variety of benefits from both personal
and professional learning including feeling
more capable and well-rounded, making
new friends, and expanding their profes-
sional networks. It also shows that digital
technology plays a notable role in edu-
cational endeavors.
Though much learning still takes place
in physical locations, there are many
sources to help learners of any age pursue
an almost endless variety of topics online.
Here, we’ve compiled a collection of
some of the top resources. For example,
check out Funbrain, which makes learn-
ing fun for kids with entertaining online
games. Stop by TEDEd to find fascinating
videos for quick learning sessions. Or
explore Khan Academy, with classes for
learners at all stages of life.
In addition to these great educational
sites, this article also covers study tools,
places to explore new careers, and helpful
information about new learning trends.
We hope you’ll learn something just by
reading the following pages. (Don’t worry.
There’s no quiz at the end!)