I am not supporter if this applies equally to everyone, but I learn better at my own pace than under institutional instruction or guidance. The term autodidactism refers to the process of self-education, a method by which more and more people are learning, from scholarly studies to practical knowledge and even job experience. This also means that companies in the education industry have to constantly innovate to stay competitive, such as my employer, Pearson. While the core principles guiding some companies in economically uncertain times may help them stay ahead, it is my belief that capitalization on the process of learning may someday cease to be a profitable endeavor.
The head of the MIT Medialab, whom some of us met last year, has picked out 'lifelong learning' as one of four big trends for 2013: "Education is something people do to you, whereas learning is something you do for yourself," he argues. "Today, the ability to learn on your own or from your peers has become really easy . . . this change is leading to a fundamental disruption in education . . . there is an inflection point coming in how people learn."
Technology is a huge driving force behind this shift, but as information becomes more accessible and affordable, the need for formal instruction in every area declines (though in some fields this will likely remain). Tablets and ereaders become more affordable, the opportunity to consume and share information grows, as does the need to facilitate this new direction in learning, rather than adhere to antiquated institutionalized learning methods. Private companies and public entities alike need to recognize this shift and promote it, rather than hold it back.
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