What is "Informal Learning"?

“Informal learning” is a concept that encapsulates the process by which learning occurs without a planned curriculum or even a clear direction or outcome. The learner seeks to engage a variety of resources within his specific learning ecology to acquire knowledge, expound upon existing knowledge, and share knowledge within this ecology. Informal learning occurs in a variety of spaces and is not mutually exclusive of “formal learning.” Such venues include: work, school, home, community, and among peers. The catalyst for informal learning is a desire to gain a greater understanding in a particular area of interest and a willingness to engage with those already exhibiting interest or expertise in the field, while at the same time seeking out new venues for information exchange. The environment created by this learner is learner-controlled, situational, experiential, social, possibly unintentional, and fluid across the boundaries of available resources. 

Listed above is a variety of sites targeted at the dissemination of information. Consequently, they provide many of the resources necessary for informal learning to occur. Click on the text to link to a blog post offering tech resources for educators. This image was borrowed from this blog.  

As I try to visualize what the process of informal learning looks like, my mind returns to the game of pinball. The ball (represents the learner's interest) is catapulted into the game board (the learning ecology). As the ball hits various points on the game board, points (knowledge) are acquired. The bottom controls (the learner) never know exactly where the ball is going to hit next (or where new information will lead), they just do their best to keep the ball in motion. The path the ball (the learning) takes is not predictable nor planned, but rather naturally occurring and changing with the introduction of new and old points of contact. The more complex the game board (learning ecology) is the more opportunities for contact and to increase point accumulation (information acquisition).

My intention was to include an animated pinball game with this post, but unfortunately I am not tech savvy enough. Here is the best I could do. Click the text below to link to an interactive, simple game of pinball.
Techies, any suggestions?

Canvas Pinball