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How adults like to learn

A NIACE briefing on learning and skills development outside of the workplace

In January the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills launched a major consultation on the role of informal learning in public life. To help to inform the consultation, NIACE added questions to its annual survey on adult participation in learning to find out how adults like to learn new things. The questions draw on the distinction between learning as ‘participation’ and learning as ‘acquisition’ – between learning gained informally, through discussion and reflection, and learning gained through structured activities where the learning goal is explicit.

The study confirms that, for learning outside of work, informal modes of learning are very important, and that learners prefer learning as participation to learning as acquisition, though they do find a wider variety of strategies useful than do learners at work. It highlights the importance and timeliness of the policy focus on informal learning, but also makes clear that learning through attendance at courses is still important for most adults. This is an important conclusion for the informal learning consultation: a blend of publicly offered classes and informal provision is the right mix for community based learning.

Other surveys in the series include:

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Contents

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