Page 39 - 21st Century Competencies: Foundation Document for Discussion

Section Four: Implications for Practice 37
The Role of Informal and Experiential Learning: Life-wide informal learning and experiential learning play an important role in the development of 21st century competencies.
Studies of informal learning environments provide some evidence that informal learning can be used to teach cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal competencies in ways that promote deeper learning and the transfer of learning. “Informal learning takes place in a variety of settings, including after-school clubs, museums, science centers, and homes, and it includes a variety of experiences, from completely unstructured to highly structured workshops and educational programs” (Pellegrino & Hilton, 2012, p. 153).
The development and ubiquity of digital tools is having an impact on how students both interact with and respond to the world. The use of digital technologies, including social media and gaming, is a way of life for young people that can no longer be ignored if schools are to remain relevant. Technological innovations afford new opportunities for learning in and
out of school and for connecting learning communities around the world, augmenting the role of non-formal learning. A U.S. National Research Council study points to research on specific technologies, such as gaming used in after-school clubs, that have been shown to have “positive effects on students’ computer literacy, comprehension, problem solving, and strategic efficiency” (Pellegrino & Hilton, 2012, p. 154).