{"id":2945,"date":"2021-11-26T15:35:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T07:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/?p=2945"},"modified":"2021-11-26T15:38:15","modified_gmt":"2021-11-26T07:38:15","slug":"how-to-raise-lifelong-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"How to raise lifelong learners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As PSLE results were recently released, there\u2019s no better time to talk about how important it is to prepare children for life, instead of exams alone. Parents and teachers often reward children for their academic achievements through praise, gifts, and treats. While celebrating your child\u2019s victories is an affectionate act and can encourage children to do their best, there is another side to the argument worth considering.<\/p>\n<p>Children who associate learning with extrinsic motivation and academic growth can develop an overly instrumental view of learning. They may find it difficult, or impossible, to appreciate the intrinsic value of learning in itself. Similarly, some students see learning as cramming before exams, which is comparable to running a marathon after training for only a few days.<\/p>\n<p>In this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pacific Prime Singapore<\/a> article, we look at how to raise lifelong learners and why it matters.<\/p>\n<div class='code-block code-block-3' style='margin: 8px 0; clear: both;'>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/plans\/family-health-insurance\/?campSource=PPSG-Blog&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=content_banner&utm_campaign=banner&utm_content=family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-777\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SEO-Banner-General.webp\" alt=\"Family insurance banner\" width=\"1138\" height=\"493\" \/><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n<h2>The importance of lifelong learning<\/h2>\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/revising-for-exams-why-cramming-the-night-before-rarely-works-67459\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cramming for exams<\/a> can result in a passing score, it can also lead to surface understanding and short-term memory. A better way to retain information is through spaced practice. This study technique involves reviewing information at frequent intervals initially and gradually reducing once more familiar. Spaced practice gives the mind time to create connections between concepts and ideas to help build knowledge that can easily be recalled later on.<\/p>\n<p>Interleaving, which involves mixing different subjects, topics, and practice techniques, is also helpful since it helps learners identify similarities and differences and apply their learning in multiple contexts. Regardless of the approach, learning should focus on personal development, self-improvement, or pleasure. However, that means we have to change the way we think about learning.<\/p>\n<h2>Everyone has a role to play<\/h2>\n<p>Singapore\u2019s Ministry of Education (MOE) has made efforts to shift our attitude towards learning over recent years. Examples of efforts the MOE had made towards reducing the importance of academic performance and developing motivated learners who learn for the joy of it include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/singapore\/psle-new-scoring-system-cut-off-points-secondary-school-moe-247501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Revising the PSLE scoring system<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Implementing a blended learning model with regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/singapore\/regular-home-based-learning-days-implemented-schools-moe-509156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">home-based learning days<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moe.gov.sg\/microsites\/cos2020\/refreshing-our-curriculum\/cce2021.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Refreshing the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/singapore\/mid-year-exams-primary-secondary-schools-scrap-ong-ye-kung-881601\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scrapping mid-year exams at some levels<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How parents and teachers contribute<\/h3>\n<p>Changing the attitude towards lifelong learning in Singapore won\u2019t become a reality without the help of parents and teachers. According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/257623708_Parenting_behaviors_and_learning_of_Singapore_students_The_mediational_role_of_achievement_goals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2013 study,<\/a> Singaporean parents play a part in children\u2019s learning. For instance, children were more likely to show positive learning attitudes and outcomes when their parents talked to and guided them rather than instructed or forced. These children became masters of their own learning processes, as well as experienced low anxiety and high self-perception and achievement.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, children with controlling and coercive parents (e.g. those who were not allowed to make their own plans) displayed a maladaptive coping orientation, resulting in low persistence and high anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Students tend to be more interested and self-efficient, as well as enjoy learning more, when teachers focus on learning, self-improvement, and task mastery. On the other hand, classrooms structured around external motivators like exams and competition typically negatively correlate with academic achievements. For example, students who are taught that multiplication can improve all aspects of their lives instead of help them outperform their classmates or pass an exam have an overall more positive learning experience and outcome.<\/p>\n<h3>How society views learning<\/h3>\n<p>Society at large also plays an integral role in shifting how we view learning. Making comments that encourage learning instead of focusing solely on results can make a big difference. For instance, pointing out that it\u2019s great to see a child read is better than asking them why they are reading if exams are over. Comments such as these may seem small in passing but they contribute to the overall culture about learning.<\/p>\n<h2>Inculcating lifelong learning in your kids<\/h2>\n<p>To start, we must believe that children can self-direct their learning. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents couldn\u2019t imagine their children ever studying virtually. Now that we have moved towards self-directed learning, the next step is to <a href=\"https:\/\/kpcrossacademy.org\/encouraging-metacognition-helping-students-learn-how-to-learn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">encourage students\u2019 metacognitive thinking<\/a> &#8211; or learning how to learn.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if your child makes a mistake in their homework, ask them to express the steps that led up to it and what they think they can do to correct it. Questions such as, \u201cwhat did you do to get this answer?\u201d or \u201cwhat is another option?\u201d can help. The goal is to get children to think more about their thinking, so to speak, and to gain insight into their thinking and learning.<\/p>\n<p>Giving our children the space and support they need to seek solutions on their own and being patient throughout the learning process is much more beneficial than quickly feeding them solutions. When your child comes to you for help, ask them to suggest solutions before giving them any.<\/p>\n<h2>Learning outside of the classroom<\/h2>\n<p>Many parents make the mistake of thinking that learning involves school work. They don\u2019t often realize that playtime, whether alone or with friends, is also part of the learning process. Creativity, self-expression, resisting peer pressure, and resilience are some of the many skills children learn outside of the classroom.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, some parents don\u2019t even see the point of letting children enjoy activities that don\u2019t contribute to their academic performance &#8211; even though various hobbies and activities can help them grow in more ways than one. As parents, offering our support and being opened-minded as our children pursue their interests beyond schoolwork can help shape their learning &#8211; while we relearn our relationship with the meantime.<\/p>\n<h2>Put your family first with Pacific Prime Singapore<\/h2>\n<p>A great way to support your loved ones is to ensure their healthcare needs are met. By securing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/plans\/family-health-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">family health insurance in Singapore<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/plans\/maternity-insurance\/newborn-health-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">newborn health insurance in Singapore<\/a>, or other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">types of health insurance<\/a>, you\u2019re making sure that your family have access to the quality medical care they deserve. As a leading health insurance broker, Pacific Prime Singapore compares insurance plans to help you select the right one for your needs and budget.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Contact us<\/a> for unbiased advice and a free quote today!<\/p>\n<div class='code-block code-block-6' style='margin: 8px 0; clear: both;'>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/compare-quotes\/step-one\/?campSource=PPSG-Blog&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cta_banner&utm_campaign=banner&utm_content=quote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-781\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/PPSG_Gen_02.jpg\" alt=\"Get an Insurance quote banner\" width=\"1138\" height=\"493\" \/><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As PSLE results were recently released, there\u2019s no better time to talk about how important it is to prepare children for life, instead of exams alone. Parents and teachers often reward children for their academic achievements through praise, gifts, and treats. While celebrating your child\u2019s victories is an affectionate act and can encourage children to &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":2946,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[716,2],"tags":[769,768,455,217,2312,473,2314,30],"class_list":["post-2945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-insurance","category-insurance","tag-ban_fam","tag-cta_gen","tag-expat-health-insurance-singapore","tag-family-health-insurance","tag-family-health-insurance-in-singapore","tag-newborn-health-insurance","tag-newborn-health-insurance-in-singapore","tag-singapore-health-insurance"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Raise Lifelong Learners<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many parents focus on their child\u2019s academic results and neglect how important it is to raise lifelong learners.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Raise Lifelong Learners\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Many parents focus on their child\u2019s academic results and neglect how important it is to raise lifelong learners.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pacific Prime Singapore&#039;s Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-11-26T07:35:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-11-26T07:38:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/ppsglifelonglearning.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1140\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"495\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jantra Jacobs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jantra Jacobs\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Raise Lifelong Learners","description":"Many parents focus on their child\u2019s academic results and neglect how important it is to raise lifelong learners.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Raise Lifelong Learners","og_description":"Many parents focus on their child\u2019s academic results and neglect how important it is to raise lifelong learners.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/","og_site_name":"Pacific Prime Singapore&#039;s Blog","article_published_time":"2021-11-26T07:35:12+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-11-26T07:38:15+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1140,"height":495,"url":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/ppsglifelonglearning.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jantra Jacobs","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jantra Jacobs","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/","url":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/","name":"How to Raise Lifelong Learners","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/ppsglifelonglearning.jpg","datePublished":"2021-11-26T07:35:12+00:00","dateModified":"2021-11-26T07:38:15+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/022b2078a0ed299e56773b9600f4789f"},"description":"Many parents focus on their child\u2019s academic results and neglect how important it is to raise lifelong learners.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/ppsglifelonglearning.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/ppsglifelonglearning.jpg","width":1140,"height":495,"caption":"ppsglifelonglearning"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/how-to-raise-lifelong-learners\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to raise lifelong learners"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/","name":"Pacific Prime Singapore&#039;s Blog","description":"Informative articles covering insurance in Singapore and beyond","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/022b2078a0ed299e56773b9600f4789f","name":"Jantra Jacobs","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1edc551dba7ac552bdf351514b15de60?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1edc551dba7ac552bdf351514b15de60?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jantra Jacobs"},"description":"Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Copywriter Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more. Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime\u2019s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime\u2019s Deputy Global CEO\u2019s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra\u2019s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is. Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jantrajacobs\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/author\/jantra\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2945"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2945"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2948,"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2945\/revisions\/2948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}