'technology-based informal learning is more style than substance'
For
Dr Allison Rossett, Professor of Educational Technology at San Diego State University;
'informal learning only works when it is supporting formal learning. Real learning only takes place when a learner recieves structure, guidance and practice.'
Nancy Lewis, former Vice-President for Learning at IBM;
'there is no science or theories, no framework and we don't know how to develop skills and attibutes in learners to support technology-based informal learning.'
Mark Doughty, Director of Leadership, Talent and Development at the Deustsche Bank cited Dickens 'electric communication will never replace face to face and encourage someone to be brave'. Mark claimed;
'informal learning is fine for trying things out but when failure is not an option only formal learning will do'.
All interesting ideas, and perhaps a little contrived but on reflection it is always positive to consider the arguments for not doing something when considering how to overcome the barriers. I believe there are some really key points to consider when recruiting learners to courses, whether informal or formal.
Against
Professor William H Dutton, Professor of Internet Studies at Oxford University, check out the stats about internet usage collated in 2009, seems like his research will enhance our marketing materials and offer a very interesting insight into what learners want and need to know.
The following figures are based on those individuals that have access to the internet at work or home;
91% use the internet to answer particular questions
71% use the internet to research specialist subjects
56% use the internet to complete work related projects
47% use the internet to complete school related projects
87% use the internet to make travel plans
75% use the internet to read the daily news
68% use the internet to find health and medical information
In all instances individuals stated that the internet is also the first place they go for all of the above information and the first place they go on the internet is either to a search engine or a website referred to them by someone in their social network. They trust this information as much as they do a television broadcast and more interestingly they trust it more than they do newspapers or radio broadcasts. Those that don't trust the internet don't have access to it.
Jay Cross, chair of the Internet Time Alliance @jaycross;
'new information is emerging so fast that curriculum leads cannot write formal learning quick enough, the only option for most is informal learning.'
David Wilson, Independent Corporate Learning Analyst @dwil23;
'the amount of informal learning that takes place everyday is so huge and so varied we cannot measure it. Informal learning is infact all substance and no style.'
It was a really exciting debate to witness, even if we did all believe that those for the motion in fact were against the motion. However one observation that was made by Alistair Clarke from NIACE was that Government believe informal learning also includes non-accredited formal learning.
For me it is very clear that we all bimble along our lives occassionally attending specific learning events, some of which the content we retain and use in our day to day lives. This makes up such a tiny amount of our learning; it is the informal learning we embark on every day at work, at home and socially that helps us succeed. Formal learning helps provide the basis of our knowledge but informal learning helps us perform.
It is my belief that formal and informal learning both support each other and more importantly fit the requirements of learners but to suggest that non-accredited learning is informal is a folly. If we all accept this view then it wont be long before Government comes along and states it will no longer fund informal learning and if we have accepted their definition we wont be delivering all those courses that benefit so many adults that need to be engaged to discover their need to learn and achieve.
