Pondering on Bob Mosher's first myth of informal learning

Informal learning doesn't need structure. All successful learning experiences need a design effort. You cannot learn in chaos. Bob refers to the need for making informal learning efficient and we would agree. Often informal learning requires even more creative structure so that learners have an environment where connections can be made since these connections can be least explicit than the simple rote learning sometimes found in formal learning. Formal learning is often instructor-centric and informal learning, to be successful, is often learner-centric.  However, you need to provide something to learners so they can arrive at their own insights. As Bob writes, you need to provide learners with some guidance so they arrive at a destination, even if that destination has multiple end points and possibilities. 

Informal learning approaches such as social networks can replace training. Rather Informal learning is a great complement to formal learning. Bob writes that the two combine to enhance the power of each. Often informal learning is set up as a follow on to some new content provided through more formal learning. It can be a learner driven informal exercise that puts formal learning into practice to make it come to life. 

eLearning is informal learning. I could not agree more and have written about this before. eLearning is a channel and informal learning is an approach that can operate in many channels. It can be technology-driven or separate from any technology. As Bob writes, much of eLearning is very formal. 

An effective and thorough training program negates the need for informal learning.  Bob writes that nothing negates the need for informal learning and I would agree. It has long been found to be where much learning occurs, whether it be by the water cooler or in an online social learning activity. Bob writes that the most effective informal learning is first introduced in a formal learning setting.  Regardless of where the introduction occurs, there needs to be some new content for the learners to build on and extend through their informal learning activities. 

It's only informal learning if it's immediate and embedded. In covering his last myth, Bob suggest that learners need to be able to step back to review and practice critical skills before attempting them. To limit informal learning to immediate and embedded reduces the options needed to achieve a robust learning framework.  A creative mix of formal and informal learning has events happening over time. These informal activities can serve as a reinforcement of prior learning experiences and provide a bridge to new ones.

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