Informal Adult Learning - What is it?

An Overview

Informal adult learning is learning for its own intrinsic value. The term covers a huge variety of activities. These activities may be conducted within a group setting or carried out individually. Informal adult learning could be:

• A dance class in a community centre
• A self organised reading group in a village hall
• A music class in a FE college
• Researching the National Gallery online
• Participating in a volunteer project to record local history
• Cookery skills learnt in a community centre
• Visiting a Castle, Cathedral or stately home for a guided tour

Although informal learning can be a good way of developing work-related skills, the primary purpose isn’t to gain a qualification, but to pursue an interest, have fun or develop a new skill for your own personal reasons. People therefore participate for enjoyment and are driven by their desire for personal fulfilment or intellectual, creative and physical stimulation.

The principles of informal learning

The following principles are taken from a UNESCO report entitled ‘Learning: The Treasure Within’:

• Learning to know – becoming inspired, discovering and exploring, developing a passion for learning, acquiring knowledge and understanding of ourselves, our immediate world and beyond
• Learning to do – gaining skills, confidence, competence and practical abilities
• Learning to be – developing our selves, our mental and physical capacity, wellbeing and autonomy, and our ability to take control of our lives and influence the world around us
• Learning to live together – learning tolerance, mutual understanding and interdependence, sharing the experience of learning with family and friends

What are the benefits?

Informal adult learning brings great benefits for individual people and for their families and wider communities. Informal learning contributes positively to health and well-being by building confidence, resilience and good social relationships. The social relationships that develop as a result of this informal learning can provide networks of support and solidarity. It therefore helps to build communities of active, confident, enthusiastic and creative people.

Informal learning can stimulate all aspects of people’s lives, promoting intergenerational and family learning. For some people, including the low-skilled and under-confident, informal learning can also be an important stepping stone towards further learning, qualifications and employment.

The Government supports informal adult learning because it brings these benefits to the individuals and communities who participate in it.

Implementing a policy

The following are principles that can be followed when implementing an informal adult learning policy:

• Following the principle of inclusion, equality and diversity
• Engaging everyone, including those on low incomes and / or have had the fewest opportunities
• Building on and sharing good practice and welcoming innovation
• Encouraging sustainability and building it into the learning offer
• Consultation with individuals and organisations with a passion for adult learning
• Focussed partnership working and linking to other agendas including formal learning, creative arts, sport, the environment and culture
• Developing a shared vision and shared values with partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors
• Maximising the use of public and private resources, including spaces for learning