Informal Learning and Collaboration

Coombs (1985) defines informal learning as "the spontaneous, unstructured learning that goes on daily in the home and neighborhood, behind the school and on the play field, in the workplace, marketplace, library and museum, and through the various mass media, informal learning is by far the most prevalent form of adult learning".

Informal learning is what happens when knowledge has not been externalized or captured and exists only inside someone’s head. To access that knowledge, one must locate and interact with that person. Examples of such informal knowledge transfer include instant messaging, a spontaneous meeting on the Internet, a phone call for information, a live web meeting introducing a new product, a live chat-room, a webinar.

Thus collaboration of some form becomes integral to informal learning. As a social animal, the human being's behavior is per definition a form of collaboration according to the standard dictionary definition - 'working together with one or more in order to achieve a common goal.' From this perspective, collaboration is a naturally occurring phenomenon, embedded in our DNA. Charles Darwin argued that cooperation and collaboration must have evolved as an evolutionary advantage.

Collaboration may be instinctive and selected-for in evolutionary terms because it succeeds. But we collaborate not because it succeeds, necessarily, but because it is fun. Collaboration thus becomes a joyous experience and gives a feeling not achieved in any individual pursuit. It also provides a feeling of collective accomplishment. Thus there is a necessity to create tools which supports collaborative learning.