Throughout this essay, the aim is to explore the term what is Informal Education and compare it with Formal Education. There are different views regarding the definition of Informal Education.

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What is Informal Education?

Throughout this essay, the aim is to explore the term  what is Informal Education and compare it with Formal Education. There are different views regarding the definition of Informal Education. For the purpose of this essay, the intention is to use the definition that Informal Education is a process, a way of helping others to learn and offers empowerment, empowerment meaning to give somebody a greater sense of confidence or self-esteem, the freedom  to the young person.

So what is Informal Education?, it is used to describe a variety of settings and activities and takes place in a variety of settings; this could be in a youth club, a park or even a cafe. In 1960 the Albermarle Report used it to describe youth work provision as:

The continued social and informal education of young people in terms most likely to bring them to maturity’ (Smith 1988: 124).

Informal Educators listen to young people and encourage them to engage in conversation and activities, to make possible their learning with social and political views.  Smith shows this when he says:

‘picking up on a conversation in an informal setting and offering guidance and information on the topic being discussed’ (Smith 2005).

As there are no strict rules around the environment this creates a more relaxed atmosphere for the young people. In contrast, with Formal Education, there would be the particular layout of a classroom and the young people would be told where to sit; in other words, this is structured to the setting.

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Both Informal and Formal educators can be seen as teachers. Informal educators lean towards helping young people develop their knowledge or skills through dialogue and activities. Using The Young Carers Project as an example, this is a project which aims to offer guidance and information on what help is available to them. There are residential trips, these are aimed at a variety of young people and are especially good for young carers as this gives them respite. The residential trips involve many activities whereby informal learning takes place; this may include rock climbing to navigating their way around camp. This is ...

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