Informal Science Learning and Education: Definition and Goals

Learning involves change in knowledge and understanding; capabilities and skills; ways of thinking–-values, feelings and attitudes; and/or ways of acting-–behaviors. It is a lifelong process that occurs in many different environments. Learning is often described as formal learning (such as that occurring in schools, colleges, and universities) and informal learning (that occurs everywhere else). Although the learning process is the same, there are qualitative differences between formal and informal learning contexts that hinge on the degree of choice participants have to engage in learning activities and with whom, and whether or not there is a formal curriculum and/or assessment process.