Student maturation

Training through the ages.

The generic idea of maturity revolves around the ability to respond adequately to the situations that concern us, whether foreseen or unforeseen. Applied to the world of education, maturity takes many forms.

For example, a kindergarten child will be deemed "mature" enough to move on to the next level, even if he or she is not yet of the "age of reason". If he responds adequately to what is expected of a child of that age, then he is said to be mature; if he is said to be "mature for his age", then it is implied that he has mastered behaviors of older people.

Maturity is obviously more a question of behavior than age.

Age of reason

When we begin to appreciate the results of our actions, we move beyond impulsivity. By thinking things through, we can better estimate the impact of our actions, even before we do them. You only kick a wasp's nest once; the next time, you usually hold back.

People who can't control their impulses, desires, reactions or attention are considered immature, regardless of how they feel about it. They keep on kicking wasps' nests. Breaking out of egocentric thinking, broadening perspectives and extending responsibilities beyond oneself are universal signs of maturity. There are no limits to this form of maturity, and it can develop at any age (1, 2).

In addition to its courses, school also provides discipline and methods. Methods of reflection, analysis, organization and research. (3,4,5) In this way, they enhance their students' maturity and abilities. Philo, accounting, science, computing - any method of thinking is better than no method at all. The age of reason is ageless.

The age of emancipation

As a child, one day we admit that no one is going to tie our shoes for the rest of our lives; that day heralds our march towards autonomy: we have to learn to tie our shoes if we want to belong to the "big boys". The analogy applies to many situations. Adolescents want to free themselves from many guardianships, and there are many paths open to them between delinquency and obedience, often a mixture of the two, but if they have a clear objective, an ideal to aim for, they will learn and experience what it takes to get there.

A young entrepreneur knows he'll have to get out of the incubator and start paying for all the services he enjoys. No one is going to lace their shoes forever, and the way out is through a period of intense learning. Education, practice and experimentation are clearly effective maturing factors. School is often the ideal environment in which to take advantage of this.

In today's complex society, it's easy to see that it takes longer to reach a certain level of maturity if you don't have the benefit of start-up capital, hence the various forms of social assistance available. Anyone who has benefited from them recognizes the moment when they no longer need them, that of emancipation, and it is very rare that this emancipation is not the result of learning, training and support. Most countries offer subsidized vocational training programs in many fields, internships, mentoring or scholarships (7,8). This is a justified and effective investment that leads to autonomy. Mature companies have understood this.

The quest for autonomy is often an institutional objective. When a university or school obtains its letters patent, it begins to mature, to assume its full responsibilities, and this too will have been achieved through a long process of preparation, development and learning.

The age of growth

As long as an organism is growing, it experiments, explores and discovers. There can be no stability except in working methods, and even these are bound to evolve. It seems that the same phenomena can be found on all scales: individuals, organizations and countries all go through an intense period of "firsts", creativity and learning, where many mistakes are made but quickly corrected.

Following one's own path is most often done outside school, but this does not mean that we stop learning or taking courses, but that we follow them with precise objectives. Learning time is no longer the main activity. Learning is less structured and more diffuse through activities, but remains intense.

One-off training courses, webinars, "short programs", Moocs, (14) "master classes" and other "You Tube" courses (over 300 million training videos (6)) meet these focused training needs.

The age of contribution

Self-preservation is a characteristic of maturity. If there is still growth, it is moderate and compensates for any losses. A mature individual or organization can cope with a wide range of situations, often profitably. Once its survival is assured, the entity can evolve its contribution.

Even if no two situations are identical, maturity involves the idea of making a contribution to one's environment, which in turn makes a contribution of its own, ensuring the stability of the whole of which it is a part. Dividends, dividends, donations, foundations, volunteer work and sponsorships often characterize maturity. Mature organizations are focused on the long term, and ensure their continued relevance by nurturing their relationships and training both their staff and the next generation.

The clientele for continuing education is essentially adult, and comes mainly from mature companies looking to enhance the skills of their staff, or from individuals seeking to requalify for new roles.

To evolve and continue to adapt, training remains an absolute necessity. Organizations and individuals alike take care in their dealings with training centers and universities. Those who don't are in decline...

The age of decline... avoidable

Institutions that last beyond a century are not legion, but they do exist. They go through several phases of crisis, but they know how to renew themselves (9). The oldest institution still active is.... the Catholic Church, which has persisted for just over 2000 years. It has seen more glorious times, and apparently has not said its last word. Its hold on education has long been one of its strengths, and perhaps its decline is associated with this.

Virtually all companies and organizations over a century old share a preoccupation with lifelong learning and research, a panacea for longevity that even seems to extend to the human faculties: continuing to learn effectively limits the development of dementia and also encourages social intercourse (10,11,12,13). Learning remains an effective quality-of-life potion.

A lifetime of learning

The integration of a learning routine is associated with maturity, since ceasing to learn systematically leads to stagnation and decline. In a changing world, those who have understood the importance of this behavior hold one of the keys to self-preservation. As a result, they have also become "mature students".

Illustration: baranq - DepositPhotos

References

(1) 5 ways to help your child control impulsivity - AlloProf
https://www.alloprof.qc.ca/fr/parents/articles/difficultes-ecole/aider-enfant-controler-impulsivite-k1633

(2) 14 simple tips to help your child control impulsivity - Aider son enfant
https://aidersonenfant.com/14-trucs-simples-pour-aider-son-enfant-a-controler-son-impulsivite/

(3) A little course in intellectual self-defense - Normand Baillargeon
https://www.decitre.fr/livres/petit-cours-d-autodefense-intellectuelle-9782895960447.html

(4) Defeating procrastination to succeed and survive your studies - A scientific method based on the Acceptance and Commitment Approach (ACT) - Frédérick Dionne, Joël Gagnon, Guillaume Raymond
https://www.decitre.fr/livres/dejouer-la-procrastination-pour-reussir-et-survivre-a-vos-etudes-9782760553859.html

(5) Science in brief 2: The scientific method - Science Council Canada
https://science.gc.ca/site/science/fr/bureau-conseillere-scientifique-chef/ressources-outils-pour-avis-scientifiques-judicieux/science-bref-2-methode-scientifique

(6) Between 3.4% and 5.2% of YouTube videos are education-related; that's over 300 million out of 10 billion! - Study reveals YouTube's most secret stats - IntoTheMinds
https://www.intotheminds.com/blog/etude-stats-youtube

(7) Rapport d'activité 2022 - France compétences - La régulation au coeur des actions - 2022
https://www.francecompetences.fr/app/uploads/2023/06/Rapport-dactivite-2022_Vdigitale.pdf

(8) Continuing education ecosystem in Quebec
https://www.cpmt.gouv.qc.ca/la-cpmt-et-ses-partenaires/lecosysteme-de-la-formation-continue/consulter-les-outils/ecosysteme-de-la-formation-continue-au-quebec/

(9) Se transformer pour durer - Le secret des entreprises centenaires - "Nous passons dans un mode apprenant" - 2019 - Les places tertiaires
https://www.lesplacestertiaires.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/100-ANS-8-MAIlast.pdf

(10) The bowhead whale reveals its secrets of longevity and good health
https://baleinesendirect.org/la-baleine-boreale-livre-ses-secrets-de-longevite-et-de-bonne-sante/

(11) "Schooling is the most important factor in preventing dementia" - Dementia prevention - Le médecin du Québec.
https://lemedecinduquebec.org/archives/2024/3/prevention-de-la-demence-facteurs-de-risque-selon-les-phases-de-la-vie/

(12) Lifelong learning - France Henri, Patrick Plante - Les TIC et l'apprentissage en milieu de travail. Université TÉLUQ - https://r-libre.teluq.ca/1742/1/TED1272_texte2.1.pdf

(13) UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
https://www.uil.unesco.org/fr/unesco-institut/mandat/apprendre-tout-au-long-de-la-vie

(14) Directory of open courses and Moocs - Thot Cursus
https://cursus.edu/fr/12113/repertoire-des-cours-ouverts-et-moocs-pour-apprendre-gratuitement-voici-des-cours