Different types of learning can help people of all ages, abilities, and interests reach their goals and enrich their lives. As someone who connects people with opportunities for learning, you are part of this awesome tapestry of education. But figuring out exactly where your education program fits in can often be a challenge.
Knowing more about all types of education can help in two pretty powerful ways:
Let’s explore the different types of learning and where your program fits in.
One way to identify different types of learning is based on how structured the learning experience is for the learner. This gives us three broad categories to work with: formal learning, nonformal learning, and informal learning. Those categories may not be intuitive, so let’s take a closer look at each one.
This highly structured type of learning most often happens in school, college, or workplace training environments. Most formal learning programs have an established curriculum and are guided by one or more instructors. Students must meet specified standards to successfully complete the program, and when they do, they may earn a credential or certificate.
We often think of formal learning as what happens in elementary, high school, or college classes, but formal learning can take place in other settings as well. Community college classes would be considered part formal learning, as would a Certified Nurses Assistant Medication Course. It’s a standardized course that requires students to meet certain clearly defined learning outcomes to earn a credential.
Nonformal learning is still structured, but happens outside of a school system. For example, taking a painting class from a local art studio could be considered nonformal learning. In most cases, the instructor still has goals or a lesson plan, but the students are more focused on the experience than on gaining specific skills, credits, or certifications.
Any a la carte enrichment class offered in a group setting would be considered a type of nonformal learning. Education programs offered by arts and culture or community education organizations most commonly fall into this category as well.
People most often engage in nonformal learning out of curiosity or a desire for self-improvement. Parents may also enroll their children in nonformal learning activities like a STEM day camp, weekly martial arts classes, or an after-school activity or program.
That brings us to informal learning, which is the most casual and unstructured type of learning. Where the other two types are usually led by an instructor or at least a facilitator, unstructured learning is always self-guided. This could include activities like watching TED Talks, chatting with colleagues on your company message board, or simply exploring the world.
For example, CourseStorm co-founder and CEO Brian Rahill engaged in formal learning when he earned his Master of Arts in Education from Ohio State University, and also when he taught MCAT and LSAT test preparation classes for The Princeton Review. When CourseStorm marketing manager Nic Lyons took a pottery class at Portland Pottery, that was nonformal learning. When he reads nonfiction books to stay informed of business and education topics, he’s practicing informal learning.
If you think back to your own formal and nonformal learning experiences, you may remember occasions when something you learned in these settings sparked your curiosity and led you to an informal learning experience. Pretty much anything can lead to informal learning if you’re curious enough.
We can also consider types of learning based on the delivery format. Delivery formats are the way in which lessons are delivered. Learning is most often divided into three main formats: in-person, online, and hybrid.
When students learn in person, they work face-to-face with an instructor. This often helps foster connection and rapport, allows the instructor to more easily spot issues a student may be having, and lets students ask questions in real-time. It also creates opportunities for hands-on guidance. For example, at an in-person yoga class the instructor can literally take the student’s hand and move it into the right position.
However, in-person learning also creates barriers for some people. Issues of transportation, accessibility, and scheduling can keep students from attending in-person classes.
The idea of learning at a distance arose long before the internet. The concept of correspondence learning has existed since at least the 1800s. At that time and for many decades after, students received lessons and assignments in the mail, completed them at home, and then mailed them back to be graded.
Once the internet gained popularity, people started offering classes online. Response to the pandemic also caused a boom in online learning. CourseStorm’s State of Informal Learning Report found that nearly a quarter of students still prefer online classes, even after the dramatic spike during the pandemic has started to recede. Today we have synchronous, asynchronous, and bichronous classes delivered digitally over the internet.
Synchronous learning means the student accesses the class at a specific time so they can interact with the instructor and their classmates directly. Synchronous classes may use streaming video, video conferencing, or chat programs for conversation and interaction. Like in-person learning, synchronous online classes require that the student be available at a specific time.
Asynchronous learning allows the student to move through the course at their own pace. They may watch pre-recorded lectures and then post questions to a message board where other students and the instructor can respond. Asynchronous classes help students fit learning into their busy schedules and to work at their own pace. However, it requires time management and accountability, and some students may struggle to stay on task or to prioritize this type of learning.
Bichronous online learning is a newer term that describes a class that combines both synchronous and asynchronous components. A course that follows this structure might ask students to work through a chapter asynchronously before coming together to discuss it synchronously.
In some ways, bichronous learning is not all that different from the in-person learning most people experience in high school, where you are expected to attend class and participate in person at specific times, and also are given reading or homework assignments to complete outside of class.
Blended or hybrid learning combines both online and in-person elements. This allows students to gain the benefits of both types of learning. Many graduate school programs use a hybrid model to help students fit learning into their busy schedules while still offering the sense of community that in-person learning provides. Under this model, students attend in-person classes once a week and participate online the rest of the time.
You might also use hybrid learning to reach both local and remote learners. In this model, some students are able to attend in the classroom while others tune in via video conference. This can be especially useful if your students live in rural areas or in places where winter storms can make driving treacherous.
As you can see, each of these learning formats has pros and cons. While many have debated whether one learning format is “better” than another, the truth is that each learning format has value for different students at different stages of their learning journey.
It can be valuable to categorize types of learning based on the end goal: What does the student hope to achieve through learning? All of these categories of learning types can be offered in any format.
For example, most states in the United States require students to attend school between the ages of 6 and 16. This type of learning is by definition formal. The goal is to gain foundational skills and knowledge while also complying with state and national regulations.
Students engage in career-driven learning because they want to start a new job, earn a promotion, get a raise, or achieve other career goals. This type of learning could include a driving course to earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and operate large commercial vehicles, or a doctoral degree program to become a medical doctor. Workforce training programs are growing in part because of more online options and the fact that workers are switching jobs and industries more frequently.
Career-driven learning is usually formal because students must meet standardized expectations to earn a specific credential or certification. Adult education and continuing education programs often offer career-driven learning alongside enrichment classes.
Enrichment learning refers to any education that students pursue to enhance their lives. Enrichment learning can cover almost any subject from finance to art. The benefits of enrichment learning go beyond the subject matter to include building a sense of community and improving life satisfaction.
Many adult and continuing ed programs offer enrichment classes, but so do theaters, museums, art studios, camps, libraries, nonprofits, and other organizations. Elementary and high schools often offer enrichment learning opportunities that operate outside the core curriculum to enhance the learning environment for students.
Enrichment classes may overlap with career-driven and required learning. For example, a student may be required to take CPR to become a camp counselor or a driver’s safety course to earn a driver’s license. Other students may opt to take these classes for enrichment without a career goal in mind.
Kids classes and camps form a subcategory of enrichment learning. Many parents enroll children in these classes for socialization, to learn new skills, to have fun, and also to have a safe, supervised environment for formal or informal learning. Kids classes and camps carry the double responsibility of teaching the subject matter while also supporting child development, interpersonal skills, and wellbeing.
Any or all of these types of learning could be part of a student’s dedication to lifelong learning. Lifelong learning is the idea that learning should be a continuous process throughout one’s lifespan. Everyone is constantly learning, whether that’s through a formal class or an informal exploration.
So lifelong learning is less a type of learning and more of an approach to life. Many people use the term lifelong learning to show that they are intentionally engaging in the process of learning throughout their lifetime. CourseStorm co-founder and CEO Brian Rahill is always learning new things, whether that’s reading books about practical engineering, or tinkering with some code on an online forum, or watching YouTube videos for tips on how to fix something on his car. Employees at CourseStorm are given an annual education stipend to take a class or buy books on just about anything that interests them, to encourage lifelong learning.
There are plenty of good reasons to commit to lifelong learning:
The classes your organization offers may be delivering these and other benefits to students. Helping learners draw connections between your classes and these wide-ranging benefits can convince them to register for your classes.
Can you provide valuable learning experiences to students without unpacking all of these learning types, formats, and categories? Absolutely! You don’t necessarily need a technical definition to deliver a quality class.
However, there is real value in being aware of all these types of learning. They help you understand the goals and needs of your students. When you know your students, you can create educational content that meets their needs and goals. You can also create marketing messages that resonate with the types of students most likely to benefit from your classes.
The categories themselves aren't really the point, it’s what these categories tell you about the student that matters. For example:
A student seeking career-driven learning is most likely looking for a formal program that results in some sort of credential or certificate, so they can prove their skills to an employer. To attract this type of student, your workforce training programs need a curriculum that incorporates the skills and knowledge employers are looking for. Marketing for these types of courses should highlight career outcomes like new jobs, raises, or job titles your students have earned.
Compare this to a student who is seeking an enrichment class. They’re more likely to be seeking something nonformal. Their goals may be more personal and center around fun or satisfaction. That means your curriculum can be looser and leave room for students to follow their curiosity. Rather than highlighting possible career outcomes in your marketing, you might want to talk about connection, community, or the satisfaction of learning something new.
All types of learning are valuable, whether you’re pursuing a college degree in women’s history, taking night classes to learn a new language, or researching hybrid versus electric vehicles on YouTube. All of these can help people face the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The children of today are likely to grow up to have jobs that don’t even exist yet with technology that hasn’t yet been invented. Today’s adults need to learn new skills and activities to help them stay ahead at work, keep their brains healthy, and increase their happiness.
Learning also enriches people’s lives, whether they’re taking an enrichment class or something more formal. Classes can provide community, a sense of connection, and personal achievement. They expose people to new ideas and make space for creativity.
Most people will engage in multiple types of learning throughout their lifetime to meet all different kinds of needs, whether personal or professional, out of necessity or curiosity. Weaving together different types of learning allows people to:
Whatever type (or types) of learning your organization provides, you are making a positive impact on people every day. When you understand different learning types and how your organization fits in, you can create better courses and more effective marketing messages to tell people about those courses.
Learning is a vital part of a life well-lived, and learning providers are performing an essential service. At CourseStorm, we are honored to support the tapestry of learning by streamlining access to education. Our course registration software makes it easy for students to enroll in all different types of education at any stage of life.
Start your free trial today, or contact us to learn how CourseStorm can help support your students in lifelong learning.
