Informal Learning Gives Us A Spark Of Joy
It had been at least sixteen years since I had been to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. When taking students to National FFA’s Washington Leadership Conference, Baltimore was always a stop on the way. I had the opportunity to return to Baltimore this past week for the National Association of State Board’s of Education’s Annual Conference. We have an evening we call state night where a place in the city the conference is being held in is featured. We always have great food and we hear from key people in the state. The National Aquarium was the featured attraction for this year’s state night. I was excited, because I have always loved the National Aquarium.
One of the incredible leaders we heard from before being turned loose to explore the entire aquarium that had been opened to us privately that evening was Jennifer Driban, President and CEO of the National Aquarium. She spoke to us about the exhibits, the student outreach, and all the great things they are doing to make learning available to all students. One thing she said, though, that really impacted me, was, “Informal learning gives us a spark of joy.” She was affirming what I had always witnessed as an agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor. Many times it was those moments outside the classroom, like when I brought students to the National Aquarium, that ignited learning and gave the students joy. Sometimes those sparks were the catalyst to giving direction for future careers.
Formal education provides us a strong foundation for asking questions and a framework for approaching different concepts. It is the informal lessons that help us interpret and apply knowledge in real-world contexts. Informal learning turns abstract concepts into skills used in our everyday lives. Along with that spark of joy, informal learning experiences shape our life perspectives and equip us with critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
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