Education began as a response to human social and cultural needs. Ancient civilizations passed knowledge to the young orally or through imitation. This practice of transmitting knowledge continued through evolution into the use of written symbols and letters. Today, education is a global phenomenon. It has many forms, including formal and informal education, homeschooling, and non-formal learning. Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of education.
Formal education
A form of education that involves formal study is often called “formal education.” But this type of learning is not limited to school. Non-formal education includes learning outside of the school environment, which is characterized by its flexibility in curriculum and evaluation scheme. Such education takes many forms, including informal learning, vocational education, and informal learning in the workplace. In this type of learning, people acquire skills and knowledge without any formal structure or external support.
Nonformal education
The idea of non-formal education has been a recurring feature of policy debates in southern countries for three decades. It has been a means to focus attention on the potential of education outside of recognized educational institutions. It has come in and out of fashion. According to Fordham (1993), the concept of non-formal education is flourishing in response to political change. Several important examples of non-formal education are presented in the book.
Homeschooling
The benefits of homeschooling are well documented. Many studies have shown that homeschoolers have more positive life outcomes than those who attend traditional school. In fact, a survey by the National Home Education Research Institute showed that 74 percent of homeschooled adults attended college. Many also reported being involved in community activities, civic engagement, and happy overall. Some homeschooling parents also teach their children about their religious beliefs and morals, which many schools don’t offer.
Informal education
Informal education is a form of learning in which teachers don’t have a set curriculum or a specific course of study. Rather, they are based on the experience and knowledge of the learners themselves. An informal educator is likely to be a person who is emotionally close to the learners, and they might have more knowledge and experience than the learners do. However, they don’t have the same formal qualifications as a professional educator, and they may not be as well-versed in the subject matter as an academic.
Social enterprise
A Continuing Career Development (CCD) course in Social Enterprise in Education is a great opportunity for teachers, tutors, and education practitioners. This course introduces the theory and practices of social enterprise and the entrepreneurship of social enterprises, as well as business ethics and environmental stewardship. Participants learn how to apply these ideas in the classroom, and get hands-on experience through project-based learning. Afterwards, they’ll develop leadership and management skills for social enterprises.
Knowledge as a continuum
The knowledge as a continuum in education is an educational theory that advocates for the use of stage-based learning as a means of enhancing student learning. In this model, the teacher selects concepts to develop in depth and then builds on those concepts through specific pedagogical materials. The knowledge as a continuum is not a measure of student achievement, but rather an indicator of progress toward mastery. In a typical classroom, a teacher might be at Stage 3 for Activating Background Knowledge, while they may be at Level 1 for Reflecting on Language Learning.
Perspectives on education
The family’s perspective on education affects the evaluation of past experiences and future educational options. In countries that are highly regulated by the government and culture, many families do not consider the underlying philosophy of education, as it is largely the sole domain of the school. As a result, parents rarely pay much attention to the values and goals of schools, and rely on schools to produce productive citizens. Though international families typically have more options when it comes to education, it is crucial to consider the underlying perspective.