Natural Learning
06-January-2005
permalinkJust before Christmas I had a drink with my friend Barry Nyhan, who works for Cedefop. We were talking about the increasing interest in work based learning, informal learning and non formal learning - see for instance the upcoming Bridges for Recognition Conference or the EC funded Self evaluation project.
One of the issues is differences between researchers on terminology - which itself reflects different views about knowledge and how it is constructed and used.
The meaning of words like non formal learning informal learning is contested.
Barry suggested that this debate is not particularly healthy and is distracting attention from the real issue. We both share the concern that in the rush in Europe to recognise non formal learning, attention is focused on accreditation and certification of learning. Such an instrumental approach may be holding back research and practice and my ignore the value of different forms of knowledge both for individuals and for organisations.
Barry suggested adopting the term 'Natural Learning' to describe all those forms of learning which take place in every day in work-life and in personal life.
This seems to me a useful approach - especially as it allows us to focus on the contexts in which learning takes place - and conversely on those contexts in which learning does not happen.
