Significance of Informal learning

For most people, at least the formal learning path ends with a degree, a post graduate degree or a doctorate from a reputed institution. Only people in the academic or core research institutions pursue formal learning further to highest degree attained. There are millions and millions of job holders who often may not be able to pursue formal education once they enter the work world. They will have jobs lined one after the other and genuinely there is no scope for them to go back to school and learn further. But Alvin Toffler made a prophecy that the literate of the 21^st century is one who can learn, unlearn and relearn.

The modern day work environment demands learning on day today basis. The job holders need to develop the skill of informal learning.

More than 70% of the learning experiences in the workplace are informal or accidental in a work place. Most often these learnings are not sponsored by the HR Department or the employer. Informal learning is continuous, holistic, effective and transferable, arising from daily events at work place. Informal learning emerges from the spontaneity and serendipity of interactions with men or machines. It happens everywhere, in a shop floor, in a meeting, in a laboratory, in the field with the customers or even while working alone.

Research by a consulting company indicate that more than 60 percent of the total learning by a job holder come from on the job experience and the social interaction with the co-workers.

Then why are we not valuing it or even acknowledging it (informal learning)?

Perhaps there is paradox: informal learning cannot be scheduled or planned but it occurs. All we need to do is acknowledge its presence, value the learner, liberate the organizational processes from red tapism, promote and nurture a learning culture, encourage informal social dialogues (fertile dialogues among job holders etc.

The job holders will find it very interesting if informal learning is captured and rewarded. Informal learning will increase job holder confidence, enthusiasm, feeling of security, personal growth, a sense of community, and rewarding relationships. Are there any better reasons needed to initiate informal learning in all?

Contributed by Sasikanth R Prabhu