Informal Learning (Outside of School)

4 Ways To Encourage Learning Outside The

Classroom

The school bell rings and students are practically climbing over one another trying to get out the door; they’re off to spend time on any number of activities, gadgetry, and entertainment. Education has expanded beyond the classroom but it’s often too difficult to encourage your students to spend the extra hour working on their knowledge, let alone convince them it’s just as rewarding as spending their time on Facebook and video games.

Students want to relax and have fun (like all of us) when they’re not in class but there are clever ways to get students excited about learning in their off hours.

Here are four suggestions and experiments to try with your students:

After-school clubs

Clubs are a great place for students to make new friends and spend time discussing & participating in one of their many interests. Clubs can range from those focused on academics, entertainment, sports, and more. Each presents a great opportunity for students to expand their knowledge and equally so for teachers who would like to incorporate education outside their classes.

A few ways a teacher could become part of the club (or at least get the students to add in a learning element) would to host and promote the clubs throughout their school. Likewise, teachers could create contests to put clubs in competition and utilize learning systems as part of the entry. In all, students benefit greatly from the social interaction found within clubs, but they can also become an excellent vehicle for learning new and exciting things.

Sports (but with a twist)

Sports like football, basketball, tennis, and the whole gamut, are all very special to a student because it encourages competition and comradery among their peers (and let’s not forget the excitement of taking on rivals, and the social status one earns from being part of the team).

The numbers and statistics used in sports is astounding. A teacher could encourage students to learn outside the classroom by keeping up-to-date with stats, creating a discussion group which integrates mathematics, or simply using scores and plays as a teaching tool.

Startups

Business is a powerful tool for encouraging students to learn outside the classroom especially if they’re passionate about their focus and goals. A business, even on the simplest level, can spark ideas and motivation to learn much like a science project.

As long as it fits the school’s guidelines, a teacher could introduce a challenge for their students to start a small business whether it’s individual or in a group. The individual/team that creates the best product or service could win a big prize. All of this would have students seeking new information on the Web, from their parents, and their peers; the excitement of competing with their peers and opportunity to make some extra money will certainly get them in the creative mindset and onward to learning everything they can to gain an edge.

Gamification

Though a little odd, one unique way to have students learning in their spare time is to turn it into a game (very much like what they’re already doing in their off hours). Gamification is simply applying game thinking and mechanics to something that’s not a game so, for example, a teacher could create “rewards” and “unlocks” for students that complete certain educational tasks.

In some ways it’s very much like homework but turning it to a game makes it enjoyable and rewarding. The rewards could be monetary or some form of status in the classroom. The tasks could be very simple such as watching a TED talk or have real challenges such as working on a DIY project. In all, it will certainly encourage students to learn since it’s treated as entertainment versus tedious study.

Keeping it fun and challenging

Between clubs, sports, business, and gaming, teachers and students have many options and opportunities to learn outside the classroom without it feeling as if extra hours have been added to their already long and (somewhat) tedious day of study.

Big things can happen when a student is given the opportunity to take their creativity and make something from it; a bit of friendly competition and encouragement from the teacher will not only increase a students willingness to study but could result in some very exciting developments for the real world!

About The Author: Raymond Lei is the founder of ooShirts Inc., a national t-shirt printing company with production facilities distributed across the United States. Connect with Raymond on Google+