"Every individual has to learn and
practice what they want to achieve
perfection of" were the famous thoughts of Socrates.
Learning in general can be defined
as a long-term process that changes and
influences your knowledge,
skills and attitudes. Modern European
educational terminology divide learning
into three categories:
it's formal, informal and non-formal
learning
which are all well defined and explained
in a video "The three whales of learning".
Formal learning is something that takes place in school's environment:
the situation is planned and purposed. And that is on through national
curriculum and the subject and school syllabus is
the teachers work plan. For example a
traditional math class
where student is doing their work book
exercises is
formal education. It is also assessed
and evaluated through exams and placement tests.
Informal learning is the opposite.
It is something that happens in everyday
situations.
It is the Saturdays that you hang with your friends
or the evenings that you spend with your
parents or family.
It is something that is educational and
might change your values
but the results are viewable much much
later.
Somewhere between those two is non-formal learning.
it is something that happens or takes
place in different situations and
environments. It is purposed and might be planned like formal education.
But it is more flexible and available for
everyone.
And most importantly it should happen
voluntarily.
Non-formal education is both
social and individual learning. It is
something that you can do
extracurricular activities or subjects
where you use active and interactive
study methods.
It is also individual learning. Your own
idea and aim to educate yourself. For
example,
learning a new skill, like playing a
guitar through YouTube videos.
In order for the studying places is to be
more enjoyable
and fruitful we need to combine those two. Something that is set
by the national curriculum
and also more flexible and innovative,
like the non-formal learning process.
Learning takes place when there is something interesting for the student
or pupil. It is something that can
influence you, something that brings out
emotions
and allows yourself
to find answers to certain questions
that you are looking for,
requirements that you want to fulfill. In order for that to happen
you need to have belief in yourself and
your self-esteem
that you can manage obtaining that value. Formal learning
focuses mainly on that particular value -
the value of the subject and what you
are particularly learning.
Non-formal education on the other
hand focus on the process;
the emotion that it brings out in you
and how
you are learning. That's why it is said
it's important to use your more
creative side.
Learning is important because through that
we learn new things, skills and
can change our attitude. It is rather
pointless if we do it
only up to the exams or if we forget
about the things next week
It is said that in average a person can
think about 800 words a minute.
But we can only speak about 120
words per minute. Therefore it is evident
that
there is enough free energy and time
for a listener to not only pay attention
to what he said
but at the same time make connections
and think about
how to actually implement what he said
in the real-life. The practical value
of learning is something that non-formal
education forces. More and more attention
is put on non-formal
education in young person's development.
Consciously learning to learn is
something that can help you
map your skills and knowledge, help you
self-define
as a citizen. Non-formal learning
is something that can be achieved
to anyone. It is available for all
interested parties
There are a vast number of projects
for youngsters in local level
both internationally. These are some
opportunities that Sigrid
will now be introducing more thoroughly.