Topic > What is learning: formal and informal theories and styles

Learning is a method of acquiring new knowledge, skills, habits, talents, beliefs, attitudes and desires. (Carbery and Cross 2015). Learning is a mechanism that provides experience, which leads to improvement and people have more opportunities to have a successful career in the future. Learning is considered an important part of the human resource development process. There are two types of learning, formal and informal learning. Formal learning is what may be most familiar to those completing a master's degree and certificate. Formal learning can be achieved and designed in a classroom setting and while an individual works at any company they receive on-the-job training which is a form of formal learning (Carbery and Cross 2015). Formal learning helps people prepare for desired jobs, such as doctors and accountants. Informal learning is unstructured learning where it has no specific objectives or targeted goals and is self-directed. Informal learning is divided into three parts, implicit, reactive and intentional. Implicit means when learning becomes part of the individual's experience involuntarily over time. Reactive learning occurs in response to the event but takes time to articulate. Deliberate means a time deliberately dedicated to carrying out actions or events. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There are two theories of learning, social learning theory and adult learning theory. Social learning theory implies that people learn by observing the actions of others, for example models considered “credible and competent” based on the work of Albert Bandura (Carbery and Cross 2015). This theory implies that four mechanisms are involved in learning, attention, retention, motor production, and motivational processes. Attention means that people must be attentive to relevant actions and which should be observed by the participant. Retention is the student's need to maintain the skills and abilities learned by studying the model in order to be successful. Motor reproduction is where participants must practice the skills and habits acquired by observing the model effectively. Motivational processes consist of seeing observed behavior implemented by an individual that would contribute to positive feedback from the organization. Adult learning theory was created in response to the need to know how adults learn. Malcolm Knowles influenced Andragogy greatly. According to this theory, learning experiences are generated under the assumption that adults with their own life experiences and motivations come to the table, can direct their own learning and prefer to learn more by doing so, want to apply their learning rather than in following specific circumstances. HRD plans activities so that adults can practice their skills in a convenient way. Everyone has their own unique learning style. This unit showed different types of learning styles through which students can learn and I recognized my learning style which is a formal learning style. I choose the formal learning style because I think it is the most convenient and easiest way to learn. This learning style helps me focus on my weaknesses and strengths and work on them. Through this formal learning style, it is easy to manage time and.