Informal learning contexts like parks, museums, historical monuments, playgrounds, music rooms, planetariums and ANERT centers provide rich learning opportunities outside the classroom. They allow voluntary, self-directed learning through exploration and hands-on activities. Key benefits include developing skills like problem-solving, collaboration and engagement with nature, history and science in a fun, experiential way. Informal learning environments complement formal education and promote lifelong learning.

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Informal learning context such as Park,
Museum, Historical monuments, Play ground,
Music rooms, Planetarium, Anert.

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Paper:-
EDU 09.8 – THEORETICAL BASE OF PHYSICAL
SCIENCE – II

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ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
Title:-
Informal learning context such as Park, Museum, Historical
monuments, Play ground, Music rooms, Planetarium, Anert.
Submitted to: Submitted by:
Smitha miss Aswathy Rajendran
Submitted to: B.Ed Student
8/8/2015 Physical science
F.M.T.C,Mylapure

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INDEX
Serial number Content Page number
1 Introduction 5-6
2 Parks 6-7
3 Museums 8-9
4 Historical -
Monuments
9-11
5 Playground 11-12
6 Music rooms 12-14
7 Planetarium 14-15
8 Anert 16-17
9 Conclusion 18
10 Reference 19

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INTRODUCTION
Informal learning is typically places where
learning takes place outside of a formal Classroom, possibly in
museums, parks, zoos, aquaria, science and technology cent
clubs, play ground etc. They are 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 learner’s backgrounds. Informal educational settings also
can offer rich learning opportunities for our students. Field
experiences provide environmental context and land ethic.
Further, field experiences can reach students who have
difficulties in grasping subject matter, and provide holistic
experiences that are retained. Therefore, science educational
research subjects that learning benefits can occur in informal
environments. As students, most of us thoroughly enjoyed the
opportunity to step outside the classroom for a day filled with
new places to visit and fun-filled activities. Outside the school
there are many opportunities to participate in science related
experiences that are designed to provide science based
explanations to the people who engage with them. Science
museums, science centers, zoos, aquaria and similar places are
designed for people to pursue their interest and engaged in
science related activities. Informal education , which is
composed of an individual’s interaction with his/her

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environment in not planned, scheduled or controlled, it is
something more efficient that formal education in the process
of gaining new behaviors. The aim of this study is to emphasize
the importance and benefits of multidimensional and effective
learning in environments for informal learning. Thus we are
going to deal with various informal learning context
1 PARKS:
Parks and green space are an integral part of dailylife,
from taking a walk in the local park and enjoying the fresh
air and the surrounding wildlife of a country park,
participatingin sports at the local recreation ground, a
family trip to the playground or a picnic with old friends or
new neighbors at a park and green spaces offer something
for everyone. During times of economic hardship the
range of freely availableactivities and opportunities
provided by parks and the diverse range of other informal
and community managed green spaces becomes
particularlyimportant. Like new born animals,children are
geneticallypredisposed to move, to explore the space
around them, and to discover it contents. All parks offer
physical activityand free-range learning. The richer the
park environments, the richer the learning will be Parks

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are inherently attractive to children because they permit
escape from the light structures of daily life
ADVANTAGES
1. Parks offer children the dailybenefits of direct
experience with nature.
2. Parks offer children a sense of place, self-identity and
belongingness.
.
3. Park engages children in informal experimental
learning through play and shared experiences with peers.
4. Parks provide valuableresource for closing the
educational achievementsgap in communities
2. MUSEUMS:-
Informal settings such as museums offer potentialfor
communicatingsocial, culturaland scientific information,
correcting misconceptionsand improving attitudes and
cognitive skills. Here learning is driven by curiosity,
discovery, and free explorationand sharing of experiences

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with companions.Museums facilitate the voluntary
learning of a variety of cognitive skills such as divergent
thinking, critical analysis,better and understandingof the
past and the complexity of the natural world. To motivate
and communicate in museums, considerable knowledge is
necessary abouthow visitors behaveand learn in leisure
oriented settings. It is important to remember that the
unguidedlearning that occurs in museums is a byproduct
of independentand usually intrinsicallyrewarding
exploratory activities. There are no grade, no top-down
control and there is no reason for visitors to pay attention
except for its own sake. Museums have not just a role to
play in learning. Their collections,be they dinosaureggs,
medievalkitchen implements, the first map of the world or
local textile designs and the scholarship and expertise
surrounding those collections, offer an invaluable,original
and thrilling learningresources
ADVANTAGES
1. Museums make us feel good and smarter.
2. Museums provide an effective way of learning.

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3. Museums help bring change and development to
communities.
4. A museums may be our next community partner or
business Endeavour.
5. Museums are free sometimes but they all need our
support to keep their doors open.
3. HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
One of the most important aspects of heritage education
is experiencing our culture first handby visiting a historical
building.A historical monument is a rich source of history.
It gives us a sense of wonder and makes us curious to
know more about the past connected with it. The activity
generates interest in historical buildingsand develops
observation skills. It also developsthe aesthetic
sensibilitiesand installsan appreciationof elements of
architecture and our cultural heritage. Historic places have
powerful and active stories to tell. As witnesses to the past
they recall the events that shaped history and the people
who faced those situationsand issues. These places help

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students develop skillsas well as knowledge students learn
to observe, gather facts, compare and contrast, synthesis
and analyze, evaluatesources of evidence, developand
test hypothesisand draw conclusions.
ADVANTAGES
1. Historic monuments provide a setting for a great variety
of local activities.
2. It gives us a long term view of social and environmental
change.
3. The historic characters is not only attractive in its own
right, but it can act as a catalyst for creative new designs.
4. The historic environment provides focus and
resource for lifelonglearning about the human past and
how people have inhabitedthe landscape and used the
natural resources.
5. Archaeological and historic sites are popularplaces for
recreation, attracting local people and visitors alike

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4. PLAYGROUND
Childrenare experts at play. Play is how
children interact with others and experiences the world
around them. Play is experimenting, co-operating,
observing, taking risks, achievingsuccess, learning from
failure and of course having fun. While play is essential to
the physical and emotionalgrowth of children, it is also
central to adultsocial interactionsand continued
developmentthroughout life. Play is characterized by
intrinsic motivationactive engagement, attention to
means and freedom from external rules. Bruner described
play as a means for acquiring informationabout and
experiencing the environment. In his view, play provides
opportunitiesfor children to try new combinationof
behaviorsand to master routines that make later
observationallearningpossible. By working outdoors
children builda vocabularyof routines and experiences
that relate to and enhance theirunderstanding of their
everyday physical world. They are inexpensiveand offer a
wide variety of play options. Trees, shrubs and ground
covers can provide different scents, textures, shapes,
colors and creative play.

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ADVANTAGE
1. Childrendevelop social skills to communicate, share,
collaborateand empathies with others
2. Children are creative about what and how games are
played
3. Playground assesses risk and tackle new challenges in
children by developingthinkingand problem solving skills
4. Children master new skills and they play with other
children and improve their competence and confidence.
5. Play helps in managing physical and social challenges and
keeping themselves

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5. MUSIC ROOMS
Informal popularmusic learningpractices involve two
main approaches, both of which take place largely in the
absence of adult supervision or guidance. The first is
solitary and usually occurs in the home. It involveslearning
music stretching from experimentationwith instruments,
to copying from recordings, loose imitation,improvisation
and composition. The other main learningpractice takes
place in groups and involves conscious learningthrough
peer-observation, imitationand talk. Listening,
performance, improvisationand composition are
integrated at the individual and thegroup level. All the
activities revolve around music in which learners are
thoroughly uncultured.Through practices young popular
musicianscan develop compositionalandtechnical skills.
They valuepersonal qualities of co- operation,
responsibilityand commitment. There is an increasing
number of informal music studies being performed, and
many of these are observing styles of popularmusicians.
ADVANTAGES
1. Learning based on personal choice, enjoyment,
identificationandfamiliaritywith the music.

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2. Means of musical transmission and skill acquisition.
3. Self-teeching and peer-directed learning, as distinct
from adult supervision and guidance
4. The assimilationof skillsand knowledge according to
musical performances.
5. Integration of listening,performing, improvising and
composing throughoutthe learningprocess.
6. PLANETARIUM
Planetarium is a learning environmentwhere both
live and pre-recorded programs are presented to
introduce concepts in earth and space science to younger
learners in earth and space science and have prepared
them for future science learningis through exposure to
planetariumprograms designed for them Most
planetariumare round theater –like structure with slightly
reclined seats that encourage the visitors to look towards
the ceiling where media is projected. In these dark
environments, visitors are often shown vibrant images and
stunning animationsabout the cosmos. Planetariumshave
the abilityto psychologicallyaffect visitors sense of reality

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because the fully immense their visitors in an audio-visual
experience. Planetarium visitors are given the sensation of
being outdoors, flying through space, or observing
astronomical phenomenawithout physicallyexperiencing
these events. Planetariumcan serve as valuablelearning
resources by planninglearners in a sensory immersive
environment, can enhance their enjoyment,
understanding,knowledge and engagement. These can be
used as a vehicle for storytelling. Telling stories through a
planetariumprogram helps particularindividualsconnect
with scientific content without fully acknowledgingthat it
is an educational lesson.
ADVANTAGES
1. Select realistic goals and effective teaching techniques
for particulargroups of students.
2. Involves students in active investigationduring
planetariumprograms.
3. Assess programs to find out which elements are working
best in helping students learn from the visit.

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4. Students acquire experiences, perspectives interests
and learning abilities.
5. Students can experience with concrete objects and
events, such as a model helps a person to accept a
different viewpointfrom his own.
7. ANERT
It is the agency for Non-conventionalenergy and
Rural Technology. Almost all villages of India are thirsty
and hunger for power long theirtownship/city
counterparts. Everybody needs power to energize day to
day life with ample facilities. In India 50 core people have
access to learn than six hours of electricity every day.
Indianvillages reel under immense energy poverty.
Regarding cooking, 70 core materials like cow dung for
cooking. According to planningcommission of India, the
highest cause of premature deaths in India is due to
asphyxiation;because of householdair pollutioncaused by
cooking with bio-mass, with this a new realizationhas
dawned that unlesswe turn to an ecologicallysustainable
development,the future of mankind will be at stake. The
present study is primarily an explanatory on

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environmentalcommunicationwhich combines
description and narration of the experience of a wide
variety of voluntary,scientific organizationsand the
innovativemethodsused by them for the disseminationof
environmentalconcepts. It deals with many ways in which
the people of India are interacting with one another by
sharing thoughtsand ideas environmentalissues in
general. Thisinvolves the physical, biologicalandsocial
interactionfor selling the idea of environmentaleducation
and conservation to the people of varied backgrounds.
ADVANTAGES
1. Conservation and preservation of natural
environments.
2. Deforestation and re-forestation.
3. Improvement in kitchen and living condition.
4. The sustainabilityof small-scale rural industries using
bio-mass fuel

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CONCULSION
Here the main focus of interest has central
on informal learning as a means of generating positive
attitudes to education,especially for peoplewho have
been excluded from mainstream of educationor who have
had bad experiences at school. Interest in informal
learning in childhoodhas traditionallydealtwith how
parents socialize their infantsinto culturallyapproved
ways of behaving.Even more impressive are the cognitive
understandingsand skillsthat are learned informally,
includinglanguage, basic literacy and numeracy, the
beginningsof scientific understanding,a sense of humor
game rule etc.. Therefore informal learning is obviously
crucial for intellectualdevelopmentin early childhoodhas
an important role in adult learning.

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REFERENCE
 www.fcti.vcf.edu/teaching and learning resources
 www.science educationreview.com
 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agencyfor non-
conventionalEnergy and Rural development
 www.ezinearticles.com www.igi global.com

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 Dr.T.K.Mathew & Dr.T.M.Mollykutty(2010), Science
Education,RainbowBooks Publishers