The recent increase in research about how we best learn in the 21st Century has identified the ‘power’ of informal and non-formal learning over qualification focussed education. Recent research has even highlighted that informal & non-formal learning is not just enriching, but has the potential personal, educational and societal benefits (not just in supporting formal education, but as a source of learning in itself). In fact, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation & Development) highlight it as “an important means for making the ‘lifelong learning for all’ agenda a reality for all and, subsequently for reshaping the learning to better match the needs of the 21st Century knowledge economies and society”
Learning is not just about the acquisition of knowledge, it is also about engagement in the subject area. With modern technology taking this from the chalkboard to smart technology this allows the learner to now better engage with the learning at their fingertips. It has been recognised that social media and mass media are now an integral source of knowledge and information for learning, highlighting the power and importance of electronic sources to inform and enhance our world. Indeed, the use of technology to create instantly accessible infographics, e-lectures and courses is something that is further enhancing learning at every level. Something recognised within formal education and beyond.
As research continues to explore the importance of non-formal and informal learning, the evidence is beginning to show that these ways of engaging with information areas often more effective, satisfying and interesting to students than formal approaches. Indeed, a new generation of learners with more options available to them than simply qualification based learning are now turning to non-formal learning to enhance their lives and knowledge and not just their own economic education and value. With learning increasingly being abstracted from the traditional constraints and structures of formal qualification based education, the contexts and concepts of non-formal, informal and curious learning (in other words ‘learning for the sake of learning’) is becoming globally more important. The convenience of learning from experts on a self chosen topic at one’s own pace, without formal certification and without the pressure to comply is one of the greatest innovations in learning in the 21st Century.
The most important part of the non-formal and informal learning experience is one of quality of learning. The use of recognised international experts as authors backed up with innovative smart technology to enhance the learning experience is one that makes this a valuable, rich and enriched opportunity to learn. This is a sea-change in how we perceive and engage with learning with pocketable learning from the top minds in their fields, supported by the convenience of technology and bite-sized learning. This is not just about the convenience of great opportunities for individuals to satisfy their interest on topics from a spectrum of areas, it is about the opportunity for the individual to truly go beyond learning.
