Types of learning
Many people find that of these ten different categories, “informal” contains the most items.
What about you? If you agree, why do you think this is? If not, what was the category into
which most of your learning fell?
Could you try and concentrate on a different type of learning over the next month?Learnacy 87Permanent—dealing with a difficult emo-
tional situation, saying sorry
Formal—going to college, taking part in a
training course
Accredited externally—taking an MBA,
gaining a certificate for life saving
Social—learning to play a team game, work-
ing on a new project with a group of
colleagues
Compulsory—going to school, going on a
training course that you did not choose
Disposable—learning a new computer pro-
gram, assembling a new set of flat-packed
shelves
Informal—watching a colleague you admire
handle a meeting, talking about what you
thought about a new film with your family
For personal interest only—digging a
pond in your garden, learning to tile your
bathroom
Individual—reading a book, surfing the webVoluntary—deciding to surf the web, learn-
ing how to speak French