Informal Education - what is it and why do we need it?

A true definition of Informal Education is difficult to create. Informal education can exist on many levels and in many different situations. We do know that informal education is a type of learning in which the student is allowed to explore, wonder, question, and create their own conclusions. Students are allowed to make choices to direct their learning and often allowed to go at their own pace. Unlike formal education, which occurs within a classroom, informal education often takes place in nature, museums, or at home. Informal education is vital to creating citizens who have critical thinking skills, effective decision making experiences, questioning and analyzing abilities, and a sense of personal and civic responsibility. Through the use of informal education, students are given the freedom to develop these skills leading to creative, well-educated citizens.