DISQUS

Drape's Takes: Formally Learning Informally

  • Jen Buttars · 6 months ago
    What I hear you saying is similar to what the math folks have been saying for a while about how to help students develop a rich understanding of mathematics. In some ways you have to live and breathe it - let the problems percolate in your mind - talk them out with experts and/or peers.

    How do we incorporate informal learning into our classrooms?
    1. Get the message out that informal learning is OK.
    2. Help stakeholders (e.g. principals, parents) understand what informal learning is and what it looks like
    3. Encourage teachers to participate in their own informal learning with the purpose of then being able to foster the same types of learning in their classrooms.
  • L Winebrenner · 6 months ago
    Darren,
    This post aligns with questions I have asked and pointed out throughout my daughter's experiences w/K-12 in 4 different states and what keeps me working w/high school students outside of the formal classroom.

    Your question, "Why can't we make the informal learning an integral part of the formal learning process?" will take a shift in the paradigm paralysis which currently exists. Right now, the informal learning that occurs in our schools is documented by negative press. People learn all the time, but if the engagement doesn't occur, the student learns to shut down.

    I am one of those lifelong learners who learns from, because of, and/or in spite of events in life, formal or informal, regardless of the educator. Like an itch that can't be scratched until my curiosity is resolved. But I didn't get that from an educator or an institution, but I can share nuggetized opportunities that allow students to discover on their own and then they move into a form of self actualization (I am not trying to bring Maslow into this).

    Below are some links from Students today so you can hear their perspective:

    Link for the 8 page .pdf on Selected National Findings Speak Up 2008 for Students, Teachers, Parents and Administrators March 24, 2009. http://tr.im/q3xU
    Students Speak How they would improve their schools
    YouTube http://tr.im/q41E
    SpeakUp website http://tr.im/q3Vx
    SlideShare presentation to Congress http://tr.im/q40l

    So to answer your question, Why can’t we make informal learning an integral part of the formal learning process? I believe informal learning exists, from learning in the womb to learning in a room en route to the tomb, is there one right or wrong way to do it? It will take a collaborative movement from formal and informal learners to shift the paradigm paralysis on a global scale.

    We know informal learning happens everyday to incorporate it into the formal learning process will take efforts from the majority but heck we can't even get old schoolers to try tech how are we going to get them to incorporate informal learning into their sage on the stage learning environment? I look forward to your research and future posts on this topic.
  • joycevalenza · 6 months ago
    I absolutely agree with you, Darren, about the need to recognize the power of informal learning! It has recently changed everything about the way many of US learn.

    Interesting, though, looking at your quote by Paine, your own opening--

    In reflecting over today's version of EduBloggerCon, I'm struck by how important informal learning is to the educational experience of people - regardless of age, race, and socioeconomic status

    --and that picture, I couldn't help but notice that race (and perhaps, socioeconomic status) had not been de-barriered @Edubloggercon. Looking at my other networks, I fear the same is true. We've broken though gender barriers, but we do not seem to represent well teachers of color. Would your questions regarding informal learning be answered the same across the lines our unconference has not yet crossed?

    What should we do?
  • Chad Lehman · 6 months ago
    Your question "How might we structure the learning environment in our schools to allow for more informal learning while teaching concepts assessed by federally imposed standardized tests?" is one I wish I had the answer to. I'm afraid if Administration or School Board members walked in a room with students "just talking" they'd wonder what was going on - and not in a good way.
  • Elizabeth Barrette · 4 months ago
    This doesn't surprise me. I learn MUCH faster on my own. With the exception of a few splendid classes, and a few things I couldn't learn on my own, school just wasted my time and slowed me down.
  • Carolyn Foote · 1 month ago
    Darren,
    Okay so I am a little late chiming in, but coincidentally this was something David Jakes just spoke about at Tech Forum.

    At AASL, Buffy Hamilton was exploring the idea of creating "unconferences" at her school for students. She's decided to hatch this idea, so it should be interesting to see it unfold.

    I do think, coming from library backgrounds, we're pretty accustomed to this idea of informal learning, since much of what goes on in libraries feels like that. But how to set that up or allow for it in the classroom (or among teachers in professional development) is the question, I agree.

    I actually think teachers probably engage in this somewhat more than students(department planning, talking over coffee, etc.).

    How to create this sort of time in the classroom? Students self-selecting topics to discuss in groups, sort of like an unconference? Regularly held discussion?

    Much to think about!