Theres a lot here and worth the time 35 minutes to sit back and learn. The terms formal and informal learning have nothing to do with the formality of the learning, but rather with the direction of who controls the learning objectives and goals. While informal learning is a valuable and useful concept, this section will dispel some of the myths that come along with it. Access a free summary of informal learning, by jay cross and 20,000 other business, leadership and nonfiction books on getabstract. Jay cross is widely known as a pioneer in informal learning and expert in cognitive science, business administration, how people learn, social computing, and psychology and motivation. The first is characterized as less controlled and, perhaps, has lower accountability qualities from the learners point of. Oct 03, 2016 informal learning is more important than formal learning. Malcolm knowles is generally considered to be the originator of the term informal learning through his book published in 1970. The challenges of informal learning training journal. Rediscovering the natural pathways that inspire innovation and performance kindle edition by cross, jay. Informal learning summary by jay cross overdrive rakuten. Jay, with his colleagues in the internet time alliance, has recently produced the 2010 version of his unbook, working smarter.
Informal learning organizations as part of an educational ecology. Perhaps the statistic that is even more telling is that only 6% of employees indicate spending zero time on informal learning. Formal, nonformal and informal learning in the sciences in the mid to late 1990s, the organisation for economic cooperation and development oecd began to actively promote and recognize learning as a lifelong endeavour, taking. Formal training and workshops account for only 5% to 20% of what people learn from experience and interactions. Learning formal learning informal learning is generally more effective, less expensive and better received than. His calling is to help business people improve their performance on the job and satisfaction in life.
Instead, he says, companies should champion nontraditional, informal learning methods, including. Rediscovering the natural pathways that inspire innovation and performance. Comparing perceived formal and informal learning in face. As the infographic below states originally created by good practice, roughly 46% of employees spend anywhere from one to 30 minutes per day on informal learning. The author reminds us that we live in a new, radically different, constantly changing, and often distracting workplace. The rise of social networks raised the profile and fostered the growth of social learning, which is generally informal. Cross says properly presented informal learning programs can give your firm a better return on its training investment than formal learning. Getting people to break free from this orthodoxy isnt. Comparing perceived formal and informal learning 326 learners conscious intention to learn. Social components improve learning informal learning usually relies on true. New concepts and technology always seem to bring a certain amount of hype videos, elearning, social media and informal learning are no exception. Rediscovering the natural pathways that inspire innovation and performance 2007. On his online space, internet time blog, cross regularly posts information about the latest trends and hot topics in the workplace learning and performance.
Lessons from collaboration across the formalinformal divide. Thus, learners may acknowledge their effort to learn more in informal than in formal learning. Learning can occur outside of school and even unrelated to school work. A recent request for feedback on new learning technology research areas highlighted areas they thought were important, and a subset naturally struck me. Cross, claims to have first heard the term informal learning. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In the field of education sciences, informal learning is defined by jay cross 2006. It allowed associating the three terms with specific educational segments. One of the most active of these professionals is the prolific jay cross. Sep 01, 2016 as the late, great jay cross put it, formal learning is like riding a bus.
Its convenient and effective, but ultimately more restrictive than making the journey yourself. Author and informal learning expert jay cross sat down with jeff tillett at mlearncon 2012 to discuss mobile learning, training in organizations, and how companies can use informal learning to. Informal learning can take place in any space, such as the workplace, the family, a religious institution, the community and the like. Knowledge anywhere 10 informal learning activities to. Informal learning 5 informal learning can provide new migrants and refugees with important foundation skills to integrate into their new communities, upon which further learning can be built migrant groups and refugees informal learning is bene. Do people learn best by sitting in a classroom taking notes. Informal music learning, improvisation and teacher. Meet jay cross, author of informal learning, speaker and consultant. May 26, 2015 informal learning is always happening.
He guides us through the plethora of digital learning tools that workers are now. Often, the most valuable learning takes place serendipitously, by random chance. Informal learning by its very nature is not planned or designed. Clearly these organisations are missing out on an enormous. Much has been written about informal learning by jay cross and others, as it relates to lifelong learning. Conner continues explaining that informal learning is a lifelong process through which people acquire attitudes, values, skills and knowledge mainly from the mass media. In ten years, informal learning has gone from obscurity to the top of corporate learning agendas. Informl is a blog from jay cross dedicated to all things related to informallearning. Intentional learning is the process whereby an individual aims to learn something and goes about achieving that objective.
With informal learning, learning flows to and from the worker. Formal learning channels have largely been seen as the most effective way to train employees in the past. Thanks in large part to the impact of his book informal. Jay cross continues to push our thinking on the transformational forces of knowledge, learning, and performance. This chapter discusses how the organization of informal learning differs across distinct settings but. Teachinglearning processes between informality and. The driver is in control and takes the passengers along a predetermined journey. Informal learning by jay cross, 9780787981693, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Informal learning is the perfect theme for exploring the next wave of our field. As the infographic below states originally created by good practice, roughly 46% of employees spend anywhere from one to 30 minutes per day on informal learning perhaps the statistic that is even more telling is that only 6% of employees indicate spending zero time on informal learning. Informal learning free summary by jay cross getabstract. Learning for everyone, explains what people need to know and do to learn for themselves and work smarter. Rediscovering the natural pathways that inspire innovation and performance, jay cross likens the difference between formal and informal training to riding on a bus vs. Informal learning organizations as part of an educational.
Smartphones enabled people to learn on the go, but this learning, too, was generally informal and on demand. The greatest difference between formal learning and informal learning boils down to whether it was intentional or unexpected learning. The next big proponent of informal learning was jay cross, who wrote. Workers spend an average of 505 hours a year learning. Rediscovering the natural pathways that inspire innovation and performance by jay cross 56 ratings, 4. Rediscovering the pathways that inspire innovation and performance 24 the 80.
Informal learning can be defined as a particular way of learning which arises from the activities and interests of individuals and groups. He explains why that is and how to use his approach. Oct 04, 2010 the next big proponent of informal learning was jay cross, who wrote informal learning. Basically, we are moving into an informal learning period. Clark quinns ottersurf offers a terrific informal learning framework. This article looks at the ten year history of informal learning and the challenges involved in encouraging its use. People acquire the skills they use at work informally talking, observing others, trialanderror, and simply working with people in the know. With the formal learning bus, the driver decides where the bus is going. This page is missing a concise definition of informal learning as it pertains to the labor force.
Jul 03, 2012 author and informal learning expert jay cross sat down with jeff tillett at mlearncon 2012 to discuss mobile learning, training in organizations, and how companies can use informal learning to. However, with the right tools, they are able to gain greater onthejob experience and to share and reinforce best practices. Oct 20, 2015 informal learning vs formal training this is the first of three articles on real learning. Quite often it is this learning type that tends to remain etched in the memory of the child for a long time. Pdf on oct 3, 2017, tim boileau and others published informal learning find, read and cite all the research you need on.
While formal training has been the focus of many corporate training programs for the past century or more, as much as 70 percent of all learning in the workplace occurs through informal methods. Learning formal learning jay cross, internet time alliance informal learning. There are a few books available on informal learning. Cross wrote his first significant paper on informal learning in 2003 updated 2009. Informal learning basics provides training and development professionals with guidance and practical lessons on harnessing the vast potential of informal learning in their organizations. An interview with jay cross in a nutshell, its informal learning if you want it and formal when its shoved down your throat. Unlike structured, formal learning, informal learning harnesses a persons intrinsic desire to learn and gives them the freedom to find knowledge from their preferred sources. Much has been written about informal learning by jay cross and others, as it. Jay cross is a champion of informal learning, web 2. This big difference alone makes it obvious that informal learning is more relevant. In the process of thinking through how to support informal learning.
Jay chairs the internet time alliance, a brain trust of six thought leaders who help companies boost their collective intelligence and profitability through networks. Despite some repetition and fluffy filler, getabstract recommends this book to learning officers, training managers and human resources professionals. Jay cross, the hidden gem of the learning marketplace, says it more eloquently in the interview. He has championed informal learning since designing the first business degree program offered by the university of phoenix. Elliott masie, founder, the masie centers learning consortium. It is therefore important to have a perfect blend of formal and informal learning. This book offers advice on how to support, nurture, and leverage informal learning and helps trainers to go beyond their typical classes and programs in order to widen and deepen heir reach. Heinleins term for instantaneous, holistic recognition or understanding.
Informal learning is actually old wine in new bottles. As long as people have learned how to perform workrelated tasks by observing and interacting with others, informal learning has played a significant role in training and development. Informal learning is the unofficial, unscheduled, impromptu way people learn to do their jobs. This page neglects to discuss the importance of informal learning, how it is perceived, rates of participation, and common applications. Yes, informal learning is powerful, but its not new. Informal learning is emerging as one of the most powerful disciplines in our industry, writes industry observer bob mosher. Jay cross has posted a breeze presentation that you can watch and listen to online. I think to separate the concepts of manual labor and informal learning is a disservice to both pages. Apr 04, 20 jay cross is a champion of informal learning, web 2. 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. Jan 16, 2007 jay answers questions on informal learning. This symbolic scheme prevailed in the second half of the 20th century. Conner, informal learning accounts for over 75% of the learning taking place in organizations today.