"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.