This document discusses the differences between formal and informal education. Formal education typically takes place in structured settings like schools, involves hierarchal grading systems, and is driven by curriculums and assessments. Informal education, on the other hand, is driven by conversation and experiences shared with others in everyday life. It develops through spending time with people, listening, talking and participating in unplanned activities. While formal education tends to involve direct instruction and memory exercises, informal education allows people to learn on their own through memorable experiences. Both types of education have their place in developing people.

1. Module One:
Children’s and Youth Ministry and the Minister

2. Formal education: the
hierarchically structured,
chronologically graded
‘education system’,
running from primary
school through the
university…
Coombs, P. with Ahmed, M. (1974) Attacking Rural Poverty,
Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press.
formal Education
Educational

3. Informal education, we
argue, is driven by
conversation and being
with others. It develops
through spending time with
people – sharing in their
lives – and listening and
talking.
http://infed.org/mobi/what-is-informal-education/
informal Education
Educational

4. What does it look like?
‘Going with the flow’ opens up all
sorts of possibilities for us as
educators. On one hand we may
not be prepared for what comes,
on the other we may get into
rewarding areas.
http://infed.org/mobi/what-is-informal-education
informal Education
Educational

5. Such conversations and
activities can take place
anywhere and at any time.
This contrasts with formal
education which tends to
take place in special settings
such as schools.
http://infed.org/mobi/what-is-informal-education
Informal Education
Educational

6. Educational

7. http://performancexdesign.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/leveraging-the-full-learning-continuum/
Time
Performance
Performance Standard
Formal
Learning
Informal
Learning
Informal Education
Educational

8. FAITH
What is it? What is it good for?
Hebrews 11: 1. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and
assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is trust, assurance and confidence in God. Living faith is shown by
service and obedience to God. God will increase our faith if we fervently
ask and draw close to Him. By Jim Haeffele
Faith - dictionary
noun
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.
5. a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.
6. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.
7. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.
8. Christian Theology, the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans
are justified or saved.
formal
Education
Educational

9. FAITH
What is it? What is it good for?
Go for a walk and share stories of faith.
Where and when has your faith helped you?
Who do you know that has strong faith?
When has your faith been weak?
Listen and learn from others…
…you might not learn the definitions of ‘faith’, but
you may learn the power of faith.
Informal
Education
Educational

10. Formal
Being told the answers
Or
Informal
Finding things out yourself
Formal
Memory exercise (can be short-term learning)
Or
Informal
Memorable experience (can be long-term learning)
Educational

11. • work for the well-being of all
• respect the unique value and dignity
of each human being
• dialogue
• equality and justice
• democracy and the active
involvement of people in the issues
that affect their lives
(Jeffs and Smith 2005: 95-6)
http://infed.org/mobi/what-is-informal-education
VALUES OF INFORMAL EDUCATION
Educational

12. Ideas?
What activities
would you call
either ‘informal’ or
‘formal’?
Educational

13. • What do you use most? Formal, or informal
education?
• Informal education takes longer, and might have
different results to what you think or want.
• Think about the difference between a spoken
sermon and an all-age service.
• 2 Corinthians 3: 7-9.
Difference between the
written law and the ministry
of the Spirit.
(How much more glorious!)
Educational

14. Module One:
Children’s and Youth Ministry and the Minister