A Student-Centered Lifelong Education Model

Introducing “Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning©” (APLL)

6 min readDec 6, 2024

This article serves as the priority date for the claim of Copyright, for the phrase “Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning©”, dated December 7, 2024, Sydney, Australia.

The education system we experienced and that our children experience, was designed for an industrial world that no longer exists. Its rigid, age-based structure must be redesigned to reflect the realities of the 21st century, where adaptability, innovation, and continuous growth are paramount. To meet these challenges, we need a new model that embraces lifelong learning without boundaries, centres on student agency, and leverages technology to create a flexible and inclusive ecosystem for all.

Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning© (APLL) is how this vision combines by dismantling the concepts of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary institutions.

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Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning© (APLL) article by Greg Twemlow, image by Image_FX

Breaking Down Boundaries in Education

I believe that learning is not something you finish — it’s something you live.

The traditional K-12 structure assumes that education ends by early adulthood, but that doesn’t fit our world. We need to reimagine education as a continuous process, integrated into all stages of life, where individuals can enter, exit, and re-enter as their goals and circumstances evolve.

Seamless Transitions

Learning integrates naturally with life’s progression. Students can step in and out of education as needed, accommodating diverse life paths without the pressure of a “hard stop.”

No Stages, Only Milestones

Progression is based on competency milestones, representing mastery of skills or knowledge rather than arbitrary age-based boundaries.
Foundational literacy and numeracy could be achieved in flexible, student-paced environments.
Advanced problem-solving, technical skills, or leadership training could be pursued when learners are ready.

Lifelong Access to Learning Resources

Learning Hubs: Physical and virtual spaces provide access to mentors, educators, AI tools, and peer networks for learners of all ages.
Credentialing on Demand: Individuals can acquire certifications, microcredentials, and project-based qualifications whenever needed.
Flexible Learning Plans: AI-driven systems continuously adapt to learners’ personal and professional goals, recommending new opportunities.

Why Lifelong Learning Matters

As I see it, education must prepare us for a constantly changing world. We can’t assume that what we learn by 18 or 21 will serve us for the rest of our lives. Instead, lifelong learning ensures we remain adaptable, no matter our challenges and opportunities.

Adaptability

Adaptability: The pace of technological change, the economy, and society demands that we continually pivot, reskill, and evolve to thrive. Lifelong learning ensures that individuals remain prepared, no matter the challenge or opportunity.

Equity

Traditional systems often leave people behind if they “miss” their chance during school years. Lifelong learning ensures no one is excluded, offering opportunities to re-engage at any time.

Integration with Life

Education becomes a natural part of every phase of life, seamlessly blending with work, family, and personal growth.

Student Agency: The Beating Heart of APLL

When students take responsibility for their learning, something transformative happens.

Education becomes meaningful because it’s no longer something done to them — they actively pursue it. The challenge is creating a system that supports this agency when students are emotionally and cognitively ready.

Personalised Readiness

Students can take ownership of their learning anytime between 13 and 21 — or sooner or later — depending on their emotional maturity and life circumstances.

Intrinsic Motivation

When students direct their education, they become more engaged and purposeful.

Skills for Life

Student agency cultivates decision-making, self-regulation, and resilience, preparing learners to thrive in any environment.

Flexible Learning Ecosystems

Education isn’t confined to classrooms anymore. Instead, I see a dynamic ecosystem where learners of all ages access what and when they need, with the support of mentors, peers, and AI.

On-Demand Courses

Modular courses provide skills relevant to personal and professional goals, from AI programming to emotional intelligence.

Peer and Mentor Networks

Communities of learners collaborate and inspire one another across generations and geographies.

Workplace Integration

Employers partner with education systems to offer continuous professional development.
AI tools help individuals identify emerging skills and map their learning journeys.

Supportive Policies

Governments and institutions provide incentives like lifelong learning credits, grants, and universal access to education hubs.

AI as the Great Enabler

Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning© is only now possible because of the emergence of AI as a broadly recognised and transformative capability. AI creates opportunities previously unimaginable in education and will grow more sophisticated to support a redesign of education to leverage its potential fully.

AI isn’t just a tool; it’s the backbone of a system that empowers Student Agency at scale, making personalised, dynamic, and equitable learning a reality.

Personalised Learning Paths

AI assesses learners’ strengths, interests, and readiness, creating tailored learning experiences that adapt dynamically as they grow.

Competency Tracking

Real-time, AI-driven assessments replace outdated high-stakes testing, offering learners immediate feedback on their progress and areas for improvement.

Mentorship Amplification

AI supports mentors and educators by analysing patterns in student performance and needs, enabling more personalised guidance.

Global Connectivity

AI connects learners, educators, and experts worldwide, fostering collaboration and exposing individuals to diverse perspectives and opportunities.

Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning© recognises that AI is not just an add-on to the current system but a fundamental rethink that enables student-centric education.

The Transformative Shift

Education shouldn’t feel like a box we check off; it should feel like an adventure we never stop exploring. A lifelong learning model doesn’t just make education more inclusive — it makes it more human.

Removes Barriers

No more arbitrary divisions like “K-12,” “college,” or “graduate school.”

Embraces Diversity

Learning aligns with each individual’s pace, aspirations, and life circumstances.

Fosters Innovation

Curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving are encouraged at every stage of life.

Education Without Hard Stops

Imagine this: A 15-year-old explores environmental science through hands-on projects and mentors. A 25-year-old transitions to a career in AI development after pursuing an earlier interest in art. A 40-year-old deepens their leadership abilities with advanced courses in organisational strategy.

And a 70-year-old learns a new language to connect with others and volunteers to teach it, fostering connection and purpose in their community.

In this world, education never stops. It evolves as we evolve, helping us adapt, grow, and thrive no matter where we are in our life journey.

Building the Future of Learning

Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning© (APLL) isn’t just a redesign of education — it’s a complete rethinking of what learning can be. This vision makes education personal, adaptive, and boundless by focusing on student agency, enabling seamless transitions, and leveraging AI to create flexible learning ecosystems.

It’s time to stop thinking of education as something that ends. Instead, we must embrace it as a lifelong journey that is as dynamic and unique as the people it serves. Student Agency is the beating heart of Agency-Powered Lifelong Learning©, placing every learner in control of their life trajectory.

The world demands this transformation, and the time to act is now.