From cross-continental train rides to steamer ships, informal learning environments make use of an "on location" setting for instruction, often for extended periods of time, to harness student engagement in an entirely new way.Social cognitive views of learning when isolated together in a setting apart from the traditional classroom, students can focus more readily on the subject matter at hand. Additionally, being "in the field" allows ancillary relationships to become visible, and students can witness and explore interrelationships in a way that is impossible under standard classroom conditions.Social cognitive views of learning

Informal settings are typically places where learning takes place outside of a formal classroom, possibly in museums, zoos, aquaria, science and technology centers, homes, and clubs.Social cognitive views of learning they are also characterized as places where motivation is internal, the content is variable and possibly un-sequenced, attendance is voluntary, displays and objects are provided, learners are of all ages, and there is more diversity in the learners' backgrounds (koran & koran, 1988).Social cognitive views of learning basically, this includes practically anywhere except the formal walls and structure of a traditional school setting.

Thus, educational studies provide a strong argument for the importance of learning in informal settings.Social cognitive views of learning application of appropriate educational learning theories is critical for instruction in informal settings. A firm theoretical foundation offers teachers a starting point from which they can build a series of learning opportunities, responding to all styles and encouraging a wide range of strategies in order to encourage successful learning.Social cognitive views of learning innovative approaches plus access to appropriate technologies can lead to the creation of new learning environments that are flexible and provide a custom education for each student, regardless of class size, time and distance constraints, previous preparation, and personal factors.Social cognitive views of learning selection of appropriate settings and associated technologies should be defined by the desired learning outcomes and students' needs to perform tasks according to their individual styles and strategies.Social cognitive views of learning learning should be interdisciplinary as students expand on prior knowledge, pursue interests, combine information in new ways to solve problems, and reach new understanding of old knowledge.Social cognitive views of learning learning then becomes a dynamic, customized pursuit of new solutions rather than the acquisition of a preconceived package of facts. The proposed course would provide exactly this sort of dynamic, ever-changing yet structured and stimulating learning environment that incorporates reading, listening and viewing.Social cognitive views of learning

However, passively hoping that learners will be able to activate appropriate learning strategies in an informal learning environment without guidance is insufficient to ensure successful learning and development.Social cognitive views of learning instead, strategy development and application can be actively included in learning opportunities. In this light, appropriate technologies can enable teachers to provide students with choices as to when, where, and how they access information.Social cognitive views of learning

Many educators call for more doing and less talking in our educational system. Finkel (2000) wrote about this extensively in his book called 'teaching with your mouth shut.' jean piaget (1974) and many of his students have shown the importance of direct experience for students in learning.Social cognitive views of learning nearly the whole of our knowledge about the empirical world has come form investigators who had direct experiences with phenomena of nature outside of the formal classroom (keown, 1986).Social cognitive views of learning there is no classroom equivalent to observing a river—clean, clear and healthy as it enters a city—and later to find it green and oxygen deficient with the community of pollution organisms as it leaves the city.Social cognitive views of learning examples of informal learning settings