informal education
Learning without school
Informal education is learning that happens outside structured academic settings—through conversations, life experiences, self-directed reading, or community activities.
Unlike formal schooling with its curricula and credentials, informal education has no fixed program: She got her informal education in politics by volunteering on campaigns.
The term often contrasts with formal education to acknowledge that significant learning occurs beyond classrooms.
One who teaches themselves
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- self-studyLearning independently, without guidance
- independent studySelf-directed academic project
- self-guidedProceeding without external leadership
self-motivated · tutorials · YouTube learning · online resources · Wikipedia · Khan Academy · self-instruction · hobbyist
Group learning sessions
- webinarsStreamed educational broadcasts
- discussion groupsOrganized talking sessions
- book clubsOrganizations discussing shared literature
- meetupsArranged social gatherings
public lectures · reading groups · language exchanges · community centers · museums · libraries · documentaries · community college
Learning trade through employment
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- practicumSupervised practical training
hands-on · immersive · observation · discovery · experimentation · tacit knowledge · learning by doing · on-the-job
autodidact
One who teaches themselves
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- self-studyLearning independently, without guidance
- independent studySelf-directed academic project
self-guided · self-motivated · tutorials · YouTube learning · online resources · Wikipedia · Khan Academy · self-instruction · hobbyist · personal development
workshops
Group learning sessions
- webinarsStreamed educational broadcasts
- discussion groupsOrganized talking sessions
- book clubsOrganizations discussing shared literature
meetups · public lectures · reading groups · language exchanges · community centers · museums · libraries · documentaries · community college · night school
apprenticeship
Learning trade through employment
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
practicum · hands-on · immersive · observation · discovery · experimentation · tacit knowledge · learning by doing · on-the-job · shadowing
informal educationformal education
Systematic study in institutions
degree programs · compulsory education · traditional schooling
informal educationclassroom instruction
Teaching in school setting
classroom learning · university education · traditional schooling · college education
education, information, informal, educate, informed, educated, educator, educational, uninformed