Learning Integration; can informal learning be formalised? Training Journal March 2009, by Gareth Walters

When I saw the title of this article, my initial reaction was that the real question is not can it be formalised but should it be formalised? Isn’t the whole question a contradiction? But after reading what the authors have to say, I became convinced that they have a point and that this topic is a valid issue for the learning professional. Perhaps a better question is - how can the two types of learning, formal and informal, best be integrated?

Informal learning is defined by the authors as the ‘unofficial, unscheduled, impromptu way most people learn to do their jobs’. They make the same point as several articles which I have reviewed on the blog recently; the different ways in which people - particularly the younger population - are now learning, mainly as a result of the technology available and the increased opportunities that it provides via Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia, Google etc. The question the article faces is - can you, should you try to embrace this trend through adaptations of learning strategies and learning management systems?

The point is made that to ignore these trends would be wrong, not least because many of the ‘new media’ may produce data that is wrong or misleading, notably Wikipedia. There is also the point that the younger learners, who use these media the most, are the ones most in need of formal structures to replace their lack of experience.

The author sees great benefit in building in access to blogs, wikis and podcasts through learning management systems, thus showing a willingness to embrace them and allowing some element of control. There are opportunities to provide a structure - for example a series of Podcasts - and encourage the sharing of data and opportunities among users. They also suggest that the LMS can track usage, which is perhaps more arguable and rather depends on the purpose and the uses of the tracking information.

Another excellent idea which this blog has discussed before is the integration of informal learning into course design, for example, using on-line access to Google et al as part of a case study or exercise. Previous discussion of this type of integration encouraged me to develop an exercise for my grandchildren over Easter - ‘answer these sport questions via Google and the first to finish can start the Easter Egg hunt’. I was amazed at the speed and motivation (largely due to a cash reward at the end) and it confirmed to me what can be done by some structuring of informal learning!

So I agree with the thrust of the article if not the title question. You cannot formalise the informal but you can integrate the two to get the best of both worlds.


To access this article go to http://www.trainingjournal.com/tj/1987.html