Most of studies on lifelong learning facilitators' professional competency have focused improvement of education and training program or qualification system. But professional competency is developed through practical experiences and various learning ...
Most of studies on lifelong learning facilitators' professional competency have focused improvement of education and training program or qualification system. But professional competency is developed through practical experiences and various learning activities in the field.
In this respect, the purpose of this study was to explore how lifelong learning facilitators' competency developed in their life world. This study set up the following four research questions. First, what does lifelong learning facilitator play roles in the filed? Second, what is competency required for performing lifelong learning facilitators' role? Third, how do lifelong learning facilitators learn based in practice? Fourth, what are the characteristics of lifelong learning facilitators' competency development through practice-based learning?
To accomplish this object, semi-structured interviews was used among various qualitative research method. Participants were consisted of six lifelong learning facilitators who have been acting in the field more than two years. Data have been collected and analyzed by open-coding and the constant comparative analysis. And then these data were verified by participants' appraisal and member checking.
As the results of this study, lifelong learning facilitators' roles, their competency, the sources of lifelong learning facilitators' practice-based learning, and the characteristics of lifelong learning facilitators' competency development through practice-based learning were revealed. Lifelong learning facilitators play roles of a voluntary servant, a professional consultant, a planner who is equipped with systematic planning ability, and an administrative manager. Lifelong learning facilitators' competency are consisted of the awareness of lifelong education, the situated knowledge and skills, the personnel relationship ability, self identity, self directed learning, and the administrative ability. The sources of lifelong learning facilitators' practice-based learning were analyzed as experience, network, public property, and the experimental formal/non-formal learning. The characteristics of lifelong learning facilitators' competency development through practice-based learning were found by analysis on previous three results. First, practice-based learning and competency development process is maintained in a circle. So lifelong learning facilitators' competency is developed continuously in the field. Second, lifelong learning facilitators' competency is an organic whole of the various practice-based learning. Third, lifelong learning facilitators' competency has an effect with each other. In other words, it has a Synergy Effect.
From these results, the following conclusions were derived.
First, the lifelong learning facilitators' competency which is required follows in the characteristic of organization or the role which is performed by him or her. So, specialized and well-rounded curriculums need to be run in lifelong learning facilitator education and training program. Second, lifelong learning facilitators' competency of attitude side is very significant. It means curriculum which like leadership, communication ability, self-directed learning have to open in lifelong learning facilitator education and training program. Third, lifelong learning facilitators' practical ability accumulate through experience in the filed. So, the effect of lifelong learning facilitator education and training can be more highly when teaching-learning strategy is not instruction but practice and participation. And the research how their professional competency improve continually in the world of life is needed. Fourth, lifelong learning facilitators' competency is not developed through only work-based learning but mixed practice-based learning. Hence the study for activating thier various practice need to be performed. Fifth, it affects learning facilitators' practice how deep the member of organization that lifelong learning facilitator is belonged recognize. Therefore the education is required for members of an organization to understand lifelong education conception.
Sixth, lifelong learning facilitators' formal or nonformal learning has an high effect and provides many sources of practice-based learning like network. Constantly, continuing education for lifelong learning facilitators would make them develop the needed knowledge, skill, attitude and can support network building.