THE INTERACTION OF DIGITALIZATION AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

Abstract

Non-formal education has been present since institutionalized education started in schools and universities. People eager to gather knowledge don’t hesitate to learn from all possible sources about topics in scientific branches. Curricula for scientific areas have developed in formal and non-formal education. Schools, as representatives of formal education, are part of traditionally based education where the teacher-to-student model of teaching is enforced. The weaknesses of formal education are multiple. Here, we will mention a few. In the first place, the number of students attending classes is large, so it is impossible to actively involve all students. The second thing concerns the teaching curriculum, which does not cover all the needs of a curious learner. The hunger for knowledge drives students to look for alternative forms of learning in, for example, non-formal education. To sum up, the reason lies in the time constraints of the class, the number of teaching units, the choice of teaching materials, and many other factors that limit the availability of knowledge. Particularly with disabled learners or those who start the education process at an advanced age, non-formal education is usually necessary for learning outcomes to be achieved as quickly as possible and for the student to be at the same or similar level of knowledge as students in regular school classes. Institutionalized educational policy and school subjects’ curricula rely on the educator’s experience in life and science to transfer to the student.
Formal and non-formal education are structured, but classes are organized either in a school (formal education) or in a community setting outside the school walls. These two educational models differ in the time for holding school lessons. Formal education is held full-time at the school, but non-formal education is organized on a part-time basis. This consensus is reached by agreement.
The other side of the learning perspective is digitalization, with its IT sector to be involved in life and work. Global digital technologies open vistas and enable instant knowledge in the real world. Through internet networks, scholars’ papers are at hand to those eager for knowledge. A learner can easily and quickly get the scientific data needed to expand knowledge in certain areas.
Our goal is to show a positive correlation between the desired acquisition of knowledge through non-formal forms of education and digitalization as a means of technical assistance to realize a wide range of knowledge outside the school aspiration.