Adult Learners’ Informal Learning Experiences in Formal Education Setting

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeltsen Peeters ◽  
Free De Backer ◽  
Tine Buffel ◽  
Ankelien Kindekens ◽  
Katrien Struyven ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Learning Experiences

Personal Learning Environments

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian H. D. Fiedler ◽  
Terje Väljataga
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
The Other ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Web 2.0 Technologies ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Digital Instrumentation ◽  
Personal Learning Environments

This paper reviews and critiques how the notion of PLEs has been conceptualised and discussed in literature so far. It interprets the variability of its interpretations and conceptualisations as the expression of a fundamental contradiction between patterns of activity and digital instrumentation in formal education on one hand, and individual experimentation and experience within the digital realm on the other. It is suggested to place this contradiction in the larger socio-historic context of an ongoing media transformation. Thus, the paper argues against the prevalent tendency to base the conceptualisation of PLEs almost exclusively on Web 2.0 technologies that are currently available or emerging, while underlying patterns of control and responsibility often remain untouched. Instead, it proposes to scrutinise these patterns and to focus educational efforts on supporting adult learners to model their learning activities and potential (personal learning) environments while exploring the digital realm.

scholarly journals Someone Like Us: Trades identities and support for work/learning

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Chris Holland
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Learning Support ◽  
Family Status ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
Language Literacy ◽  
Vocational Learning ◽  
Learning Connections

This paper reflects on specific findings from a 2009 study of on and off-job learning that explored apprentices’ learning experiences, formal and informal learning connections, and implications for language, literacy and numeracy in vocational learning. The study was conducted in the glazing industry in New Zealandi, and as part of that study, apprentice profiles were developed. This discussion focuses on three of those profiles and reflects on two emerging themes. The first theme is employer and apprentice perceptions of the value of apprentices coming from a ‘trades family’. The second theme is the range of inclusions and exclusions, advantages and disadvantages that apprentices experience depending on their ‘trades family’ status in both on and off-job learning. The paper then considers what kind of learning support might help integrate the different identities required within an apprenticeship.

Adult learning in traditional music

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Cope
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Adult Learning ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Traditional Music ◽  
Technical Advice

This study is based on interviews carried out with 13 adult learners of traditional fiddle playing. The average age of the learners was 56 and they had been learning to play for between 2 and 20 years. All of the interviewees had taken music at school but none of them had been stimulated to participate further in any significant sense. The aspiration to learn to play the fiddle had various sources. Learning usually took place through traditional workshops and through the medium of the tune rather than through scales and exercises. Only one of the participants took regular conventional individualised lessons. They tended to take a pragmatic stance with regard to technique, looking for technical advice when they came up against barriers to progress. The music they played was within an aural culture and most of them learned by ear although they tended to regard notation as a useful supplement. All of them played in some sort of social context and all of them described an immense sense of pleasure and achievement from their playing. It is suggested that this kind of informal learning may have implications for learning to play instruments at school.

scholarly journals Examining the Design of Microlearning for Korean Adult Learners

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyo-Jeong So ◽  
Hyeran Lee ◽  
Seak-Zoon Roh
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Content Areas ◽  
Learning In Context ◽  
Computer Based Learning ◽  
Korean Adult ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Increasing Demand

Considering the increasing demand for microlearning in informal learning spaces, the main purpose of this research is to examine the design of microlearning perceived by adult learners and experts in Korea. The research questions include: (1) what modality and content length do adult learners perceive to be relevant for microlearning? (2) what content areas do adult learners perceive to be relevant for microlearning? and (3) what are the expected impacts and future directions of microlearning perceived by the experts? The participants include 11 e-learning experts and 326 adult learners working in the fields of science and technology. Data were collected from the learner survey, focus group interview, and expert survey. Overall, this study found that adult learners tend to have some conflicting opinions about the content areas perceived to be relevant for e-learning and microlearning. The design of content that takes the modality of video consumed within 3-5 minutes was considered to be the most relevant for microlearning. Experts perceived that microlearning is an efficient and effective direction for adult learners to enhance professional knowledge and to broaden informal learning opportunities. However, the experts were less positive about the potential of microlearning for increasing convergence research and learning transfer. There was a considerable gap between desirability and feasibility in the directions toward integrating microlearning with advanced technologies. Based on the key findings, we discuss some implications concerning the design of microlearning for adult learners’ informal learning. Cite as So, H-J., Lee, H., Roh, S-Z. (2020) Examining the Design of Microlearning for Korean Adult Learners. Computer-Based Learning in Context, 2(1), 40-53. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4057859

scholarly journals EMERGENCE OF INFORMAL LEARNING SPACE IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS: A COMPARATIVE SCENARIO IN THE CONTEXT OF KHULNA CITY

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Sourav ◽  
◽  
D. Afroz ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Formal Learning ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Learning Spaces ◽  
Learning Space ◽  
Informal Learning Environment

Ancient education system was developed from a semi-outdoor environment. While developing the learning spaces it developed into indoor environment to ensure controlled environment, focus, discipline and compactness. These properties lead to formal education and formal learning space which replaced the informal learning environment. Formal learning space usually drive students towards a single expertise or knowledge. The limitations and boredom of formal education often causes depression and annoy towards education that result in limited learning and one-sided education. This research indicates the role of “informal learning environment” which helps university students to achieve multi-disciplinary knowledge through a simple, contextual and informal way. To establish the emergence, we tried to do a quantitative analysis among the students studying different universities in Khulna city. We have tried to understand the perspective of the students whether they feel the importance of informal learning or not in their daily life. While working on this paper, we have experienced unique scenario for each university but by any means Khulna University and Khulna University of Engineering & Technology serves their student the environment where students can meet and share knowledge with their natural flow of gossiping with food or drinks while Northern University of Business & technology and North-Western University have shown different scenario.

Serving Nontraditional Students

2015 ◽  
pp. 106-128
Author(s):  
Dianna L. Newman ◽  
Meghan Morris Deyoe ◽  
David Seelow
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Skills Transfer ◽  
Content Areas ◽  
Writing Tutorials ◽  
English Speaking

The role of technology and educational media in supporting nontraditional adult learners is growing. One key area in which more research and development is needed is the improvement of writing, especially writing that is related to formal education. This chapter presents findings related to the use of online writing modules developed to support English as a Second Language and nontraditional English speaking college students. Participants reported improved content-specific writing skills, transfer of writing skills to other content areas, and increased self-efficacy in writing. Differences continued to be noted by key student characteristics. The study has implications for continued development and use of digitally supported writing tutorials for nontraditional adult learners.

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