INTRODUCTION

Informal learning is any learning that is not formal or non-formal

learning. Informal learning is organized differently than formal and non-formal
learning because it have no set objective in terms of learning out comes and is
never intentional from the learners standpoint after it is referred to as learning
by experience or just as experience . For all learners this includes heuristic
language building, Socialisation, enculturation, and play. Informal learning is
persistent and pervasive on going phenomena of learning via participation or
learning via knowledge creation in contrast with the traditional views of
teacher centred learning via knowledge acquisition









CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMAL LEARNING
Before ever go to school or take part in a mom and lot program,
informal learning starts the day you are born and continuous until the day you
die. Here are the characteristics of informal learning
1. Informal learning is never organized
There are no set formulas or guidelines. Examples of informal learning
include activities such as teaching your child the alphabets or how to brush his
or her teeth. There is no prescriptive program of study for this
2. Informal learners are often highly motivated to learn
Unlike the formal learning environment of school, informal learners are
often eager and alternative. A teenager showing a friend how to find an Easter
egg in a video game is an example of informal learning. The game really wants
to find out how to achieve his goal. So he embarks on journey to figure out
how
3. Informal learning is often spontaneous
Learning happens anywhere, anytime. The learners is inspired to learn
because of an immediate desire to know how to do something or understand a
topic or an informal teacher sees an opportunity to share their knowledge or
wisdom with someone else
4. There is no formal curriculum
There is no program of study or prescriptive methods whatever methods
used are the one that the person teaching knows how to teach often based on
their own experience
5. The teacher is someone who cares and who has more experience
than the learner
In the informal learning contest these leading the learning are likely to
be emotionally close to the person who is teaching such as a mother, father,
grandparents. An adult child teaching an older parent how to use new
technology is an example


6. The world is your classroom
It is a myth that learning happens in a school or in a classroom. With
informal learning there is no class room. Your home, the neighbourhood, park,
the community and the world are the classroom
7. Informal learning is difficult to quantify
There are no exams and informal learning is difficult to quantify
8. Often dismissed by academies and sceptics as being worthless
Informal learning is often overlooked and not regarded as particularly
valid learning

9. Essential to childs early development
Learning your mother tongue is an excellent example of informal
learning. Without informal learning we could never cope in a formal learning
environment

Informal learning can be defined as a particular way of learning which
arises from the activities and interests of individuals and groups. After having
identified and selected interests expressed by learners, informal learning
activities (discussion, talks or presentations, information, advice and guidance
are) are carried out in a flexible and informal way, in informal community
locations.
Conner continuous explaining that informal learning is a life long
process through which people acquire attitudes, values, skills and knowledge
mainly from the mass media, from daily experiences such as those made at
work, at play, while with our neighbours and from various kinds of
interactions, in general. It is apparent that informal learning is rather related to
incidental learning
Informal learning contexts are such as parks, museum, historical
monuments, playground, music room, planetarium, ANERT etc.

A park is an area of open space provided for recreational use. It can be
in its natural or semi natural state, or planted, and is set aside for human
enjoyment or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats




A museum is a building or institution dedicated to the acquisition,
conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects
having scientific, historical, cultural or artistic value.






A historical monument is a statue, building, or other edifice created to
commemorate a person or important event



A playground is an area designed for children to play






A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and
entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky




ANERT is the agency for non-conventional energy and rural technology
and is an organisation working under government of Kerala, India
Present days the students are learned things from these informal
contexts

CONCLUSION
The speed at which technology evolves today is increasing more than
ever before and technology keeps offering new tools in order to simplify our
lives. At the same time, teaching strategies are out of step with the times and
students are not being taught how to adapt their learning to fit todays
complex work environment.
The reason why informal learning is becoming so popular has to do with
immediacy and relevancy. Informal methods of learning are often found in the
work environment as they are seen as techniques that a learner can take
advantage of right away and with immediate application to their job. Another
reason consist in the fact that learners can drive their learning in a more
meaningful and self-directed manner















REFERENCE

Education in merging society- Dr.Sivarajan
Wikipedia- informal learning context
Wikipedia- museum, park, playground etc.
www.informallearningcontex.com