Intro-

Welcome to The Purposeful Learner Podcast where we discuss how constructivist learning ideas can be used in the real world. My name is Mandy Lambert, instructional designer, and I am here to discuss meaningful, holistic learning ideas and strategies. (Background music)

 

This week’s episode is called The Power of Invisible Learning and we will discuss the what, why, and how of incorporating informal but impactful learning into professional organizations. So what exactly do I mean by “invisible learning”? To me, invisible learning includes skills or knowledge that a learner simply “picks up” by going through an experience. For example, consider how it was when you started your first job. Were you as comfortable leading a meeting, going on business trips, or managing others? Think of how much you have progressed in those areas even if that was not the direct focus of your job or skillset. Or consider how young children learn language and social skills simply by engaging in the world. No instructional objectives necessary! This is why constructivists believe that learning goes beyond obtaining knowledge or skills and is part of an entire personal development practice. (Transition sound)

 

What impact does it have on learners? 

So what are some of the ways that invisible learning impacts learners? According to Forbes’ writer Brandon Busteed in his 2019 article, What’s the Purpose of College? Many people believe the purpose of college is both to help students get good jobs and to prepare students for success in life. In paragraph two, Busteed defines this as “an engaged and enlightened citizen capable of thinking critically and communicating clearly, ultimately able to thrive in their well-being.” He later links this to how graduates find purpose in their work are ten times more likely to feel they are thriving in their well-being. Many people also reflect on college as a time for learning valuable life skills around time management, health, relationships, and developing an identity, things that can be summed up by the popular phrase “adulting”. Of course, many of these skills can be gained without a college education, but this serves as a clear example of when the value of an educational program goes far beyond the knowledge gained.

 

Another byproduct of learning is exposing the learner to multiple perspectives. Over the summer I read the book Educated, written by Tara Westover in 2018. Educated is a fascinating memoir where Westover described her personal transformation through education. Westover grows up in an isolated, survivalist, and sometimes violent family with no formal K-12 education. Her drive to understand the world leads her to different universities and countries, and she eventually earns her PhD at Cambridge University. Most strikingly is the change in how Westover views the world. Education gave her the opportunity to understand perspectives beyond what she was taught in childhood, allowing her to make her own conclusions and life choices. In less extreme examples, it is common for education to cause people to encounter students from different ethnicities, countries, regions, or socioeconomic backgrounds. This often leads to increased empathy for others and understanding of the many different life experiences there can be. In summary, education widens horizons.

 

Finally, learning builds self-esteem and confidence- leading to an increased internal locus of control. The Expectancy-Value theory explains motivation requires both confidence in success and perceived value of meeting a goal. This shows the importance building confidence in the learner by scaffolding and gradually increasing difficulty. When a learner approaches a new challenge, she can look back at past assignments and accomplishments to show evidence that she is likely to master this one. Education allows for students to push themselves, be proud of their successes, and apply that confidence to tasks in the future. This increases their perception of capability, resulting in an “internal locus of control.” An internal locus of control means that an individual believes he or she has the ability to impact his or her life. In the 2018 book The Self-Driven Child, authors William Stixrud and Ned Johnson explain that a low sense of control is one of the greatest factors in all mental health problems. They describe how an internal locus of control is the key ingredient in a happy, successful life.

 

These examples show how the impact of learning goes far beyond obtaining information, and can have a drastic, positive impact on both society and individuals. So what kind of factors facilitate growth through learning, and how can we use this as an opportunity in our professional organizations? (Transition sound)

 

What can influence informal learning? 

One thing that can influence informal learning is the environment. Humans are constantly taking in their surroundings and storing them in memory. There are ways that this can affect learning without us even realizing it. The book, Changing the Odds for Children at Risk, written in 2008 by Susan B. Neuman, describes the contrast in environments for children who grow up in middle- or upper-income areas versus those who grow up in poverty. Neuman describes how middle-class parents build routines with their babies that include grocery shopping, visiting the library, eating at restaurants, and going to activities where the familiar locations help develop a language script for the children. Children’s books are readily available, signs are appealing, and there are many locations that encourage and provide reading opportunities. It is drastically different in poor neighborhoods.

 

Neuman asks on page 16: “if you walk through poor neighborhoods and ask yourself questions such as these: Are there readable, formative signs in the business district? Can parents in this neighborhood buy children’s books at the local stores? What are the quality and quantity of books in childcare centers, school libraries, and the public library? Can people be seen reading newspapers or books in laundromats, restaurants, and bus shelters? You’ll find the answers highly disconcerting.” This difference creates a lasting impact on students. Studies show that middle-income children start kindergarten having seen or heard about 45 million words, whereas children from a welfare home begin kindergarten exposed to only 15 million words. This discrepancy causes low-income children to start behind and feel less confident in their learning abilities. In this case, invisible learning and the environment has a big impact.

 

Going beyond the physical environment, what about the people who are in it? With humans being such social creatures, the social environment also provides a powerful invisible influence. Situated Cognition Theory is a learning theory stating knowledge must be understood in the relation to the social and cultural system. Similarly, Vygotsky’s Developmental Method explains that humans are motivated to learn the skills and information based on what activities are done in their social groups (Driscoll, 2005). Consider the question I posed at the beginning of the episode about how you have developed professional skills over time. It is possible you took a course or read an article on workplace habits, but very likely you learned a lot from emulating your peers and managers and by receiving social feedback. Even values and choices can be influenced by your social group, consider how much more likely it is for students to choose to attend college if their parents and peers are.

 

In her 2012 article, Role Modeling: The Forgotten Influence, Ashley Janis explains “role modeling has often been referred to as the “hidden curriculum” of professional education as we often lack understanding regarding the influence role modeling has on learners,” (p. 1). Janis describes a study that was done finding that role models were one of the most influential aspects of physicians’ education program. Additionally, they found that students selected role models based on personality, competence, and instruction ability, while rank, years of experience, and accolades were less important (p. 1). This is interesting because learning programs don’t often consider providing role models as a specific instructional strategy. They also might not consider training teachers or managers in programs on how to provide the best kind of mentoring and modeling for learners. But since humans so naturally look to those around them for cues on how to act and what to pursue, there is opportunity to use this concept to strengthen learner and program success. (Transition sound)

 

Conclusion- 

Invisible learning has a powerful impact on both the individual and society. We discussed the example of how college students experience personal and intellectual development far beyond their major programs. We also examined the fascinating memoir, Educated, where a young woman’s entire perception of the world was changed. Then we explored how learning can build competence, confidence, and a sense of control. Additionally, both the physical and social environments can have a hidden effect on the learner’s experience and outcomes. As seen in the studies around environment and poverty, low income children lack access to reading opportunities, giving them a significant disadvantage starting school. And finally, the social nature of humans gives weight to modeling where students will learn to imitate leaders and peers. All of these examples show that learning is much more than meeting objectives or getting a grade. The personal development of a learner is subtle, powerful, and potentially unpredictable, though studying it will give us insights into how to best guide learners to success.

 

So how do we use this information to better our professional organizations? I believe that by mindfully considering and using informal learning, organizations can create a culture of informal learning. This culture could foster personal development, employee engagement, and dynamic innovation.  Head over to The Purposeful Learner website at https://mandylambert100.wixsite.com/purposefullearner to watch my Vodcast on strategies to create this kind of culture in your organization. In this video I will discuss four actionable strategies that can be used in any organization including large companies, small businesses, non-profits, government organizations, and schools. The strategies are applicable to organization members at any leadership level, so whether you are an employee or manager you will find tips for using constructivist learning strategies in the workplace. (Transition sound)

 

Again, this is Mandy Lambert, Instructional Designer, I would like to thank you for watching my show and recommend you visit the show notes and script at https://mandylambert100.wixsite.com/purposefullearner.  There you will find the books and articles discussed in this podcast episode as well as a link to my full professional portfolio. There is also a contact page where I would love to hear feedback or simply connect with listeners. If there is a learning topic you would like to hear more about, please send it in. See you next time on The Purposeful Learner Podcast! (Background music).