Discussions > Is "Informal learning" a valid concept? Have a look at Vyara Dimitrova and Paul A. Kirschner definition
Is "Informal learning" a valid concept? Have a look at Vyara Dimitrova and Paul A. Kirschner definition
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Nicolas Balacheff
160 days ago |
Let's have a look at Vyara and Paul points about the issues raised by the definition of "Informal Learning". Thinking about them, I came to the idea that what gives its relevance and consistency to "informal learning" is "formal learning"; that is, its relation with a learning outcome which is acknowledged in formal terms. So we can understand that "Informal learning" has developed naturally with the deployment of networking and mobile technologies with the expectation of bridging learning in and out of schools. Could we find there some support to the claim for the scientific validity of this notion? |
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Fridolin Wild
154 days ago |
It surely is an established concept, but: good point, Nicolas: is it really valid? Isn't the difference in context and environment from school settings to desktop settings overshadowed by the difference in perspective when looking at management ('designing for learning') and cognition (co-construction of knowledge)? Isn't the difference between collaborative and invidiual learning more significant? For me: I think, yes. But it obviously is something we as a field want to investigate!
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Nicolas Balacheff
140 days ago |
In my opinion a discussion on the difference between collaborative learning and individual learning (it would be better to say "lonely" learning) is surely significant, but recognising it does not close the issue raised about informal learning. So, what about the validity of "informal learning" as a concept for educational or TEL research? How to define it so that it remains significant and robust, and do not dive in being any adaptation?
By the way, do you know this proverb:
We breathe without noticing until we run up the hill
We learn the way we breathe, until we have a will
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