Formal vs informal learning: The point of overlap
In this week's readings I chose articles that discussed the dichotomy of learning attributes- informal learning vs. formal learning. I find this concept interesting, because some theorists arrange the two antithetically on opposite sides of the learning continuum. Yet, others have decided that there is overlap, with many points on a line where the two could meet. Here's a little diagram I made to help visualize.
Here are some of the attributes for each.
Formal Learning
- Institutionally sponsored
- Highly structured in classrooms, courses, and schools
- Learners receive grades, degrees, diplomas and certificates
- An agent (teacher or LMS) is directing learning
Informal Learning
- Self-directed and learner controlled
- Exploratory, including learners creating, organizing, and packaging their learning based on personal preference
- Spontaneous
- Takes place outside of the classroom, course, and/or school
The point of overlap
I think we can all think of some examples of formal and informal learning at the furthest opposite ends of the spectrum, but what about where things start overlapping? Here are a couple that I thought of.
Hobbies. You might take a class at a dance studio, library, kitchen, or community center. These could be considered formal classrooms, and may be led by a teacher, but may not be officially sponsored by an institution and may not give grades, degrees, etc. You may practice your hobby with other hobbyists in an informal setting, but if someone decides to take charge and lead the group, does that start shifting into formal territory?
Social Media in Class. One of the biggest components of informal learning is that it is spontaneous. If students are instructed by their teachers to use Social Media, which is typically considered a tool of informal learning, does it become formalized? If learners are told "You must make 3 posts a day on Instagram, write 1 blog post, and comment on 5 classmates' posts" that's not exactly spontaneous anymore.
I tend to agree with the theorists that propose there is an overlap because I can think of examples where this is the case. Do you think formal and informal learning overlap, too? Can you share an example of where the attributes meet in the middle?
Social Media in Class. One of the biggest components of informal learning is that it is spontaneous. If students are instructed by their teachers to use Social Media, which is typically considered a tool of informal learning, does it become formalized? If learners are told "You must make 3 posts a day on Instagram, write 1 blog post, and comment on 5 classmates' posts" that's not exactly spontaneous anymore.
I tend to agree with the theorists that propose there is an overlap because I can think of examples where this is the case. Do you think formal and informal learning overlap, too? Can you share an example of where the attributes meet in the middle?
I think that there is a great overlap in formal and informal learning. For example this past year at my school some other teachers and myself were asked to run a program at our school for students who were a few grade levels behind. We are talking 16 year olds in middle school. So we had to come up with some pretty unconventional ways to get these students back on track so they could move on to high school. A lot of the time we had to supplement the formal aspect of the class room, which these students were not successful with to more of a self paced learning program to help push the students toward mastery of standards. One thing we did was combine a bunch of the standards into group projects so the students would be allowed to work at their own pace in a group that was absent of formal direct instruction. Because of this students had to take it on themselves to become leaders in the groups to make sure that the finished product was showing mastery.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great example! It was in the formal classroom where they received a letter grade, but the learners directed themselves. Sounds like it was very engaging for them!
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