What is informal learning?

Last Friday I spoke at the eLearning Network event: "Informal Learning: Learning despite the Training Department".

My presentation slot was 15 minutes long and had the title "What is informal learning?".

I first explained how in my consultancy experience many L&D departments were reticent to get involved with informal learning and identified three reasons for this. I then introduced a nanocast from Jay Cross who in just 1 minute (of my precious 15!) gave a quick overview of informal learning from his side of the pond. In the rest of my time I offered two definitions of informal learning and how they inter-related, together with a brief look at how I thought L&D departments could become more involved with informal learning.

If you would like to find out more about my presentation, I've placed a copy and a "script" on the Waller Hart website.

The biggest thing that struck me about all the speakers was that everyone had their own definition of informal learning - which depended very much on their background and the organisations they came from!

For a summary of the morning speakers, take a look at Normal Lamont's blog.