Informal learning and reflecting
This is a bit funny thing for me when I do my studies in pedagogic sciences and write this blog. The studies are mostly concentrated to the adult education. It can be divided to three parts: formal, non-formal and informal learning. Formal learning is the educational learning at institutes, universities and other official structures which admit a degree. Non-formal learning happens at organized situations according some kind of leading and it is possible to have a document or a certificate of learning and participating but it is not a degree. F. ex. associations and sport clubs have such kind of courses which are useful and is related to their values and purposes. Informal learning happens nearly all the time and it is called everyday-learning. It has as many aspects as the human life has. It happens at work, home, hobbies, shops, banks, busses, schools and in internet. It can be coincidental learning and it means that there is no plan and it happens and usually through the error it is possible to realize that now they will teach me. It is very experimental way of learning as you see.
What is funny? When I have read these theories and try to apply them to practice I realize that actually I (and you) am doing it here. This way of learning English is a good example of everyday-learning. We use modern elements, internet and programs, and its form social media to be in contact to people around the world and learn not only to use the tool, the language, but also our lives, societies, countries and ourselves. And now I will come to the most interesting part. To make that all conscious it has to reflect. Reflecting has many meanings and it depends on the way of approaching the experiment. One way might be looking backwards, asking yourself what it was then what it is now, make unclear things clearer, give names to steps or to parts of the process on so on.
Learning has fascinated me time to time and it was 2002 when I took this photo. It is named “Reflection”. It tells my understanding of reflection seven years ago. It is like looking forward to window and there you see what is behind. To make shivery picture clear you have to reflect what you have actually behind.
So this is fascinating way of learning and big question is how this way of learning will be indicated to formal learning?
See you,
Taru
Comments
Hi Taru! It seems to me unbelievable you managed another interesting blog still heaving been stucked by cold. The photo is definitely an art work! It reminds me about the word ´roofscape´ I came acros reading the Restles by William Boyd. Teacher Rachel Hunt asked us once here how many words with ´scape´ we can produce. There were another words like ´mackerel sky´ or ´elation´ I became familiar with from these blogs. But the most interesting is that I finished the book in three days only which I am unable with the book in my own language. However, the true is I was stucked home alone not able to walk properly due to a small operation on my heel. I don´t have any destination (except art galleries)I would like visit. The world as such seems to me the place of dream. The dream I am allowed to experience just now! All the best!
Hello, Taru! These are rare days when I take time to reflect upon anything. But, the BBC has that effect on me, in fact your post has made me stop to think about what I am doing, if I have learnt anything from my mistakes so not to make them again. This is what you called informal learning. People can be so smart and hold plenty of diplomas from different universities, but make as many mistakes in private life, not being able to put in practice what they have learnt at the university. I think that informal learning requires most reflecting and practising and then again reflecting, but then again, don’t people learn from their mistakes while they are alive?
hi Taru you describe the entire education nicely,i like the way you taken.
Education means the knowledge developed for the societies the forms of got this knowledge vary, the formal knowledge that was systematized in the societies in order improve the effectiveness of the process, as a teacher, I know how the experiences of learning happen everywhere, everyday and it part of our programmimg to survive and give better information to our future generations. Good job,Taru.
Benka, You are on a edge of learning revolution! You wonder things and it is important part of reflecting. I give you one advice: find more information about reflecting and "inside theory" or "practic theory of inside" and think what it is for you. I think that you know already parts of the answer but to deeper them will these things help you.
Hi Taru, Informal learning goes on with life, but what we had learnt should be followed and made into practise; the mistakes we did in the past should not be repeated. Take an example of a child when he\she starts walking they have many falls, but then gradually when they have practice and they start walking they don't fall. It's the same with learning no doubt we learn it with errors but once when we had learnt it, we had to try not to make mistakes, it's a true reflecting. But then nonone is perfect in this world.Best regards and take care.
Hello Taru, You have introduced another interesting topic (informallearning and reflecting). In my opinion, informal learning take place through out our lives. We learn those things more effeciently when we are positively reinforced for it. For example, if people do well in education, they subconsciously try even harder to do even better. Similarly, children learn that when they cry, they get more attention. To learn something more effectively, we should reflect on what we have learnt in the whole day. The best way to do this is sit in a quiet place and concentrate on the whole day. You will find out what your weaknesses are. You will be able to concentrate on your weaknesses and you will learn things more effectively. There is a lot to talk about this area but due to lack of time, I won't be able to write more on this topic. All the best. It just depends what is important to each individual. We consciously concentrate on things we believe are important and ignor other things which don't seem as important.
A good choice to write about, Taru. Relevant rigor - rigorous relevance, both are certainly needed and what´s more, every man for himself!
What a wonderful blog Taru! As Marianna said your picture is an art work. Best wishes, Ana Paula.
What a wonderful blog Taru! As Marianna said your picture is an art work. Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Hi, Taru! your blog is very interesting. I also think that, as you said, Learning English is good and useful because it gives opportunity to use English and learn what happens around the world. By the way, the pircture you took is interesting (somewhat mysterious, I feel). this peicture makes me understand much clearly what "reflection" is.
Hi Taru, you've choosen very interesting topic. I've been thinking of these stuff for a long time. Learning is natural because we all have to deal with new situations or circumstances in our lives. but all difficulties we have to get on with can help us to go ahead. Another aspect of learning is that as deliberate activity it can be great opportunity to relax. For example, after busy day or when my kids don't obey me i just wish to "run away" and have a rest and the only way i can do it it's my hobbys - learning to play the piano and learning English. Of course these hobbys have brought me up that learning is long and difficult process and made me more patient and tolerant with my own and also other people's mistakes.
Hi,Taru:i am a new member of bbc.it's very happy to read your blog which is very interesting.with the development of world economy, english is palying an important rate in communicating with people,so i am learning english hard now.i hope we can make great progress.
Good Blog!!! I'm a new comer, i want to practice English and dicus with persons in blog. Now in Viet Nam is very night (23h09). I go to sleep so bye everybody!! see you later!!
Hi Mira, Windy, Thi Nguyen! I am very happy that you have liked my blogs and find something new aspects and things to see the world. For me it is only a one step, I will go further and develop me more. I am not sure how I will success but I intend to go further..
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