Formalizing Informal Learning-What? Why? How?

 Attended "Formalizing Informal Learning- What? Why? How?" by Lance Dublin. Thanks to the kindness of the people at Elluminate, the archive will be available for a month or two here (free of charge). I will probably attend more of Lance's presentations but in archive format so I can stop and digest the information a bit more, he talks very very rapidly.

Take Aways:

• "Informal learning is never organized, has no set objective in terms of learning outcomes and is never intentional from the learner's standpoint. Often it is referred to as learning by experience or just as experience.... "
• "Making mistakes is inevitable."
• "Surprises are a given."
• The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be." Paul Valery 1871-1945

The problem with informal is it is also unrecognized and untrackable for the most part. Unrecognized and untracked learning often equates to under-appreciated learning. How do we create a way for people to get recognition aside from the time/staff intensive testing?

PLE's and Connectivism

Am already behind in the connectivism class. I suspect they are ok with that as long as I'm learning and contributing as much as I can. Over 700 working professionals from all over the world in this group so it generates a lot of noise that drowns out a lot..  Much of the talk is academia-speak, but then I'm rather used to it.  

  

Watched Richard Schwier interview George Siemens recorded with Skype. The topic was Connectivism, "a theory about learning that draws on network theory, social networking, and social constructivism among other things." You can watch it here if you would like. Some parts I had to play multiple times so if you need to do so too, don't feel alone.

  

Take Aways:

 

• What is worth connecting to and what is not? Developing the ability to sift the information, opportunities and tools and choose the best available. How to develop in myself? ....in others?
• Inherent weakness of networks The flock, surrounding oneself with people of similar thoughts and feelings. Diversity is important to avoid tunnel vision and to provide new perspectives. Reminded me of Randy Pausch's class, teaming up programmers, artists and others to form a diverse and strong team in developing a virtual project. I would definitely have enjoyed a class like that.