Informal Learning in Digital Contexts

Abstract

Governments, business leaders, educators, students, and parents realize the need to inculcate a culture of lifelong learning – learning that spans geography, time, and lifespan. This learning has both formal and informal components. In this chapter, we examine the conceptual basis upon which informal learning is defined and some of the tools and techniques used to support informal learning. We overview the rapid development in information and communications technologies that not only creates opportunities for learners, teachers, and researchers but also challenges us to create equitable and culturally appropriate tools and contexts in which high-quality, continuous learning is available to all.

Using Social Media Resources to Build Young People's Professional Futures

“…learning how to proceed and what tools to use to solve a task. Increased access to social networks has created new opportunities for informal learning, increasing activities on social platforms involving the use of formal learning resources and tools in informal settings (Dron & Anderson, 2023, p. 1386.…”