Informal learning, APL and learning styles

Jacqueline van BrinkErik Kaemingk25 March 2008

Leonardo

Program

• Different perspectives on learning

• Formal, non formal and informal learning

• Accreditation of Prior Learning

• Practise learning

• Learning styles + scan

• Reflection

What is Learning?

The process, the experience or experience to knowledge, skills or values to collect.

Thesis

Learning is:

• linked to a change of behaviour?

• in individual and social context two sides of same coin?

• the things you do when you don’t know what to do?

• a subject of reflection?

• Learning takes place throughout the day?

Formal learningFormal learning takes place within the structured formal educational system. The learning methods are standardisedIt focuses on cognitive knowledge that is measurable.

Non formal learning

Non formal :Intentionally organized, structured learning means that in a different context than institutional school play. For instance company education.

Informal learning

• Informal learning is learning that takes place outside school / training in the workplace or elsewhere outside school or training.

• Also named: voluntary learning• You cannot avoid informal learning, it

takes place all day, during your work, during holiday, raising children, hobbies; informal learning never stops.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

• APL concerns all types of learning; formal, non formal and informal

• In order to conduct an APL procedure you have to be able to recognise all prior learning

• Most exciting APL procedures are those who include non- and informal learning

Accreditation of Prior Learning

• One can learn languages by grammar and lexicon, some learn it by doing

• A voluntary job as chairman in sports can make you a good manager

• Running a family can be a good preparation on a career in health care

• Travelling around the world can be the best preparation for a salesman.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

• Most of your learning is in- or non formal

• Societies run on experimental and chaotic learning

• We could be winners if we could manage all learning, not only the formal learning

• APL is the method of valuing all learning

• APL might be the missing link in personal development

Eight dimensions of learning

Dimension / Grade

1. Place

2. Awareness learner

3. Steering

4. Contents

5. Connection

Reference framework

6. Incentive to learn

7. By whom

8. Who

Learning forms

1.Practise learning is learning in the workplace

2.Discovery learning includes all activities aimed at new knowledge, insights and skills to do so.

3.The created learning comes to creating, developing and designing new services and products.

Practise learning

• Learning in companies or constructed learning

Examples:Alliances of business

Little companies from students

Simulation companies

What is learning about

• We should be more open for images, metaphors, subjective views, experiences and intuitions in the learning of our selves. We would have to be out of the idea that learning only consists of education and training.

Informal learning and learning styles

Rhythm

Rhythm

• How do you experience learning?

Learning styles

In order to determine and analyse the learning preferences, there is a new system, containing five contexts of learning by M Ruijters.

Learning by• Copying the art: Role models, imitation from

best-practice, real-life, pressure • Participation: Dialogue, with others,

collaboration, discourse, trust • Acquisition: Objective facts, transmission,

knowledge, from experts • Experimentation: Critical reflection, safe,

experimentation, explicit learning • Discovery: Meaning, deep understanding,

inspiration, self regulation

Explanation preference styles

-10 -5 0 5 10 15

Sco

re

Copying the art

Participation

Acquisition

Experimentation

Discovery

Metaphors of learning at work • When applying these metaphors to the

use of technology at the work place one needs to distinguish several roles of technology. Here we will distinguish four roles:

• To work with ICT Learning• Learning as working with ICT (implicitly)• Learning deliberately with ICT• Learning through the design of ICT

Learning to work with ICT• Participation: Just let people with similar interests work

together in using ICT• and help each other• Imitation: The (virtual or f2f) looking over the shoulder

assistant• Acquisition: E-learning modules presenting the theory• Experimentation: Deliberate practice: purposeful trying to

practice certain ICT skills• on the job (see Erickson, Krampe, and Tesch-Romer

(1993)• Discovery: Finding out on your own how computers work

(with some help of• manuals and colleagues)

Your learning style

Reflection: questioning:

• Experience what kind of learning style you used when you are successful at your work

Or

• Give an example about learning you used in your favourite style.

Wednesday

Reflection

• What tells the test about your preference style and what does it means to you, the project and to the target group