Preschool Teachers’ Informal Learning Behaviors

Abstract

Informal learning is the primary feature that transforms educational activities into lifelong learning. Informal learning refers to people’s discovering new things and improving their experience in everyday life. That is, it refers to learning outside the classroom. Teachers' informal learning styles are thought of as ways in which they overcome their deficiencies while continuing their profession. This study aims to reveal preschool teachers’ informal learning behaviors in their workplaces. Thus, it is a descriptive survey study. The study group was selected through simple random sampling. The participants include 117 preschool teachers working in Kutahya province of Turkey in the 2018-2019 academic year. The study showed that the most frequently employed informal learning activity by preschool teachers is “search the internet” while the least employed one is “consult to an online community that you are a member of”. Focusing on informal learning activities of information technologies teachers in their workplaces. An overall evaluation of environmental inhibitors to informal learning of preschool teachers shows that “lack of free time” affects the teachers most while “lack of monetary rewards” affects them least. An overall evaluation of personal characteristics that enhance informal learning for preschool teachers shows that “love of learning” affects teachers’ involvement in informal learning activities most while “initiative” has the least effect on informal learning activities.