Informal Learning: Revolution of Learning

Khaled Islaih

Diversity Trainer

TESL Ontario’s 39th Annual Conference

Language Learning: A focus on Success

Oct 27-29, 2011

Toronto

Objectives

“I can not teach anyone, all I can do is make them think” …….Socrates

“The illiterate of 21st century will not be those who can’t read and write, but those who can’t learn, unlearn and relearn” …..Alvin Toffle

“ In times of rapid change learners inherit the Earth, while learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exist”…. Eric Hofler

Industrial Revolution

School Printing Press

Print Literacy Linear educational worldview Formal / structured education is the main form of

learning Literacy is reading and writing text School is the place for learning Textbooks are knowledge sources Teachers lead, students follow Rationalized reductionism, hierarchy and

bureaucracy Created disciplinary knowledge Doesn’t work in today complex world

What does Literacy mean for you?

From Literacy to Multiliteracies

New economy demands new literacies New technologies reshape workplaces,

workforce, skills, professional practices and lifestyles

New literacies are continuously emerging (print literacy, digital literacy, media literacy, environmental literacy, mobile literacy…etc)

Informal learning is the key to new literacies

What is Informal Learning?

“ Learning resulting from daily life activities related to work, family or leisure. It is not structured in terms of learning objectives, learning time and learning support and typically doesn’t lead to certification”

…….Centre for Workplace Skills

Other names for Informal Learning

Action learning Experiential learning Incidental Learning Self-directed learning Disruptive learning Reflective learning Life-long learning Hands-on learning

Why Informal Learning? Globalization has brought life long

learning as a top priority in our lives New policies increased interest in life

long learning to maintain competitiveness and labour mobility

The internet provides access to global knowledge

Rapid change in the workplace Growing dissatisfaction with the formal

education system and off –the- job training

Informal Learners Characteristics

Initiative Love for learning Risk taking Outgoing personality Commitment to personal growth and professional

development

What are your informal learning activities?

Informal Learning in Immigrant Education

Immigrants use informal learning to navigate Canadian culture and workplace.

Informal learning provides immigrants with resilience and confidence

Canadian born population use informal learning to work with diverse clients and learn about other cultures

Canadians gain tolerance and appreciation for cultural diversity

Informal Learning for Multicultural Communities Discover new meaning, learn

new perspectives, facilitate personal growth, problem solving, team building and conflict resolution

Promoting informal learning is important for personal empowerment, social justice and cultural transformation

Diversity of thought is important for business innovation

Informal Learning for Language Teachers - 1

Social networking (Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs)

Google language tools ( Translate text, translate web sites, Google website in local domain…etc)

Subscribe to newsletters

Informal Learning for Language Teachers- 2 Attend webinars Join professional online

groups, join discussions, share your knowledge and perspectives

Integrate new practices in langauge curriculum to make it relevant to and prepare learners for a changing workplaces and lifestyles

We – Learning: the Future of Learning

Conversational Sharing Collaborative Participatory Mobile

Find new ways to flip teaching, encourage participation, sharing and collaboration among

your learners bring the world into your classrooms