LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE

WHAT IS LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE?

Learning refers to the lifetime process of obtaining knowledge, attitudes, skills, and socially valued qualities of character and behaviour. For most types of learning it is sustained and involves communication, or the transfer of knowledge or skills from one person to another. The communication can involve a wide variety of channels and media and may be verbal or written. It may be delivered face-to-face or by other means.

While a great amount of learning takes place in institutions, which have teaching as their principal function, learning activities occur in a variety of other settings such as child care centres, homes, communities, and work places. Learning therefore can include cultural aspects such as inter-generational knowledge sharing as well as the behaviours and skills in acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge.

The avenues of learning can be arranged into three broad groups:

• formal learning, provided by schools, colleges, universities and other formal institutions, refers to structured education that leads to a formal qualification
• non-formal learning, such as workplace training and adult education courses, involves a structured learning process but does not lead to a formal qualification
• informal learning, which is unstructured and non-institutionalised education related to work, family, community or leisure.

LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE AND OUR WELLBEING

Basic life skills, such as literacy and numeracy, are vital to the wellbeing of people and for them to fully participate in society. The skills people develop contributes to the creation of social bonds and supportive communities, and the maintenance of relationships and responsible lifestyles. Society benefits from the increase in people's knowledge and abilities through increased productivity, innovation and cultural identity. It is important for society to support ongoing learning, whether for research, re-training or for personal development, and to support the creation of knowledge through scientific inquiry. Inter-generational learning, or the knowledge that is passed down from one generation to another, provides crucial links across generations and helps contribute to the cultural fabric and strength of Australian society.

The lifetime process of learning is facilitated and supported by education and training. Education and training helps people to develop knowledge and skills that may be used to enhance their own wellbeing and that of the broader community. Education and training are important means by which people can realise their full potential and make positive choices about their lives. For an individual, education is widely regarded as a key factor in developing a rewarding career. For the nation, a skilled workforce supports ongoing economic development and improves living conditions.

In a national consultation conducted by the ABS in 2011-12, Australians said that learning, gaining knowledge and developing skills are important throughout people's lives. Children's development from infancy through schooling and into higher education and training is considered to be important to both individuals wellbeing, and to society overall (MAP 2013, ABS).

Information on current learning and knowledge conditions and historical trends can be monitored using information on:

• participation and retention in education and training systems
• childhood education and care
• adult competencies and learning
• transitions from education to work
• cross-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional analysis and performance.

LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE AND OUR CHANGING WORLD

There are a range of events, pressures and drivers of change that have the potential to substantially affect learning and wellbeing. In relation to learning and knowledge, some examples of these factors include:

• the changing structure of the labour market, as well as the fast pace of technological change requiring people to be capable of development throughout their lives
• the increasing importance for people to pursue education beyond compulsory schooling - lifelong learning (cradle to grave learning), continual re-skilling, engagement and re-engagement
• the growing demand for quality early childhood education to ensure positive later learning pathways and outcomes for their children
• involvement of industry in the development of competency-based training packages and curriculum in both the vocational education and training and higher education sectors
• the impact of changing social and cultural norms on curriculum and learning needs.
  

LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE AND ACTIONS SUPPORTING WELLBEING

There are many ways that people, community groups, governments and other institutions can work to improve learning and knowledge in Australia, particularly to improve an individual's capability to participate in education and training. Some examples include actions to support:

• students in gaining knowledge and skills, and developing their talents and self-confidence
• training systems that assist students to obtain skills to achieve employment
• positive educational and life outcomes for children, from early childhood education through to higher education
• flexible learning pathways, to allow for the diverse needs of students
• lifelong learning and ongoing ability to be effective participants in the labour market
• the sharing of knowledge.
  

BUT THIS IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY...

To gain a better understanding of learning and knowledge in Australian society, look through the pages on:

• Health
• Work
• Crime, safety and justice
• Economic wellbeing
• Family and community
• Information and communication technology

USEFUL RESOURCES

Need some more information on learning and knowledge? This section can point you in the right direction.

Australian Qualifications Framework - The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) establishes the quality of Australian qualifications. The AQF is the national policy for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system. It incorporates the quality assured qualifications from each education and training sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2003, Information Paper: Measuring Learning in Australia - A Framework for Education and Training Statistics (cat. no. 4213.0) - A framework for statistics on learning. The framework has been developed to assist relevant bodies and agencies to determine their information requirements, and assist in data collection and analysis.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2002, Discussion Paper: Measuring a Knowledge-based Economy and Society - An Australian Framework (cat. no. 1375.0) - Presents a descriptive framework to enable assessment, through use of relevant statistics, of the degree to which Australia is a knowledge-based economy and society.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Concepts, Sources and Methods, (cat. no. 4240.0.55.001) - Provides information about the early childhood education and care collection scope and coverage, key concepts and definitions, data quality, the availability of data, and governance.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), OECD Skills Surveys - As part of its Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), the OECD collects and analyses data that assist governments in assessing, monitoring and analysing the level and distribution of skills among their adult populations as well as the utilisation of skills in different contexts.

Department of Education and Training - The department is responsible for national policies and programmes that help Australians access quality early childhood education, school education, higher education, vocational education and training, international education and research.

KEY TERMS

Level of education

Level of education is a function of the quality and quantity of learning involved in an educational activity. It is categorised according to the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED), 2001 (cat. no. 1272.0) Level of Education classification.

Level of highest educational attainment

Level of highest educational attainment identifies the highest achievement a person has attained in any area of study. It is not a measurement of the relative importance of different fields of study but a ranking of qualifications and other educational attainments regardless of the particular area of study or the type of institution in which the study was undertaken.

Qualification

Formal certification, issued by a relevant approved body, in recognition that a person has achieved learning outcomes or competencies relevant to identified individual, professional, industry or community needs. Statements of attainment awarded for partial completion of a course of study at a particular level are excluded.

Higher education

Education offered by a university or other higher education institution, leading to the award of a degree or higher level qualification.

Vocational education training

Post-compulsory education and training, excluding degree and higher level programs delivered by higher education institutions, which provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills. Vocational education and training also includes programs which provide the basis for subsequent vocational programs.

School study

School study is participation in primary or secondary level education regardless of the institution or location where that study took place, including at a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institution or schooling at home.

School age participation rate

The school age participation rate is the number of full-time school students of a particular age expressed as a proportion of the Estimated Resident Population of the same age at June. It indicates the proportion of the resident population who are at school. Whereas apparent retention rates rely on students having to progress year by year through the school education system, participation rates relate to the resident population as a whole.

Apprentice

An apprentice is a person who has entered into a legal contract (called an indenture or contract of training) with an employer, to serve a period of training for the purpose of attaining tradesperson status in a recognised trade.

Traineeship

A system of employment and training that involves an agreement between the employer and trainee to provide training and employment for a specified period of time.

CLASSIFICATIONS

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Standard Classification of Education, 2001, (cat. no. 1272.0) - The Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) is comprised of two component classifications, Level of Education and Field of Education. It provides a basis for comparable administrative and statistical data on educational activities and attainment classified by level and field. The ABS has designed ASCED to be as consistent with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) as much as possible.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics, ISCED: International Standard Classification of Education - The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) facilitates comparisons of education statistics and indicators across countries on the basis of uniform and internationally agreed definitions. Like ASCED, ISCED has separate dimensions of Level of Education and Field of Education.

REFERENCES

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013, Measures of Australia's Progress (cat. no. 1370.0)