FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION IN THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS
LA EDUCACIÓN FORMAL Y NO FORMAL EN EL PROCESO DE ENSEÑANZA-APRENDIZAJE
Patricia Ríos-Ramírez1
E-mail: docentepatriciarios@cetis91.edu.mx
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8764-8767
1 Universidad Pablo Latapí Sarre. México.
ABSTRACT
The article addresses education in Mexico as a fundamental pillar to achieve the transformation of society, through disciplinary knowledge, values, socio-emotional, digital, cultural, artistic and sports skills, where formal education and non-formal education complement each other to achieve the teaching-learning process offered by teachers in the classroom; to produce changes intellectually. The essay recognizes how both educations have characteristics and advantages that influence the professional, personal and daily life training of students, but not only of these actors, but also of the professional training that teachers acquire, in order to offer a good education. Formal and non-formal education plays a fundamental role in the Mexican educational system. All the learning that is acquired in the classroom, in workshops, in courses, in postgraduate courses, encourages critical thinking in citizens, which will later be very useful in the work and/or professional field.
Keywords:
Formal education, non-formal education, teaching-learning process.
RESUMEN
En el artículo se aborda la educación en México como pilar fundamental para lograr la transformación de la sociedad, a través de conocimientos disciplinares, valores, habilidades socioemocionales, digitales, culturales, artísticas y deportivas, donde la educación formal y educación no formal se complementan para lograr el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje que ofrece los docentes en el aula; para producir cambios de manera intelectual. En el ensayo se reconoce como ambas educaciones poseen características y ventajas que influyen en la formación profesional, personal y para la vida cotidiana de los estudiantes, pero no solo de estos actores, sino también de la formación profesional que van adquiriendo los docentes, para poder ofrecer una buena educación. La educación formal y no formal desempeñan un papel fundamental en el sistema educativo mexicano. Todos los aprendizajes que se adquiere en el aula, en talleres, en cursos, en posgrados, fomentan un pensamiento crítico en los ciudadanos, que después será de gran utilidad en el campo laboral y/o profesional.
Palabras clave:
Educación formal, educación no formal, proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje.
INTRODUCTION
Through the years, education in Mexico has experienced great changes in order to accomplish the teaching-learning process of children and young people in Mexico, during this process of educational improvement in the Mexican educational system, areas of improvement have been open, as well as the strengths of teachers who has always offer quality in education even with many restrictions on the part of the educational system (Aguirre-Quezada, 2021).
Education is by nature, the process of socialization of individuals; it can be academic, socio-emotional and cultural-artistic. Through learning, people acquire and assimilate knowledge.
Education also implies cultural and behavioral awareness, subsequently new generations learn the ways of being of previous generations, and this knowledge goes from generation to generation.
The educational process gives rise to a series of skills and values, which produce intellectual, emotional and social changes in children and young people. Depending on the degree of awareness that has been reached, these values can last a lifetime or only a certain period of time, depending on certain factors, the concentration presented by the students or, on several occasions, the strategies teachers used in the classroom.
METHODOLOGY
The article applied the state of the art of published articles, reading and review of texts related to the topic of formal and non-formal education, the teaching-learning process in students and teachers.
DEVELOPMENT
Formal education is a correlated global educational process that includes levels of education and requires systematic intentions embodied in an official curriculum, implemented with a specific timetable and schedule, it is a learning that is usually offered in education or training centers, which is structured by nature (according to the didactic, duration or support objectives) and that finishes with a certificate (Soto-Fernández & Espidillo-Bellom, 1999). Traditional trends define it in the context of schools devoted to children and youth, thanks to which education is intended to enable adults to function effectively in the productive life of Mexico.
In formal education, the term education is equivalent to school, therefore, school attendance is mandatory, this is called presence-based modality, and it has private, public or mixed financing and is a regulated system based on grades, school cycles, grades and educational modalities (Marúm-Espinosa & Reynoso-Cantú, 2014). This type of education includes institutions such as schools, colleges and universities; it follows the program and curriculum established by the educational authorities (Soto Kiewit et al., 2023).
Formal education in Mexico is controlled by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) and consists of several levels, starting with preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and higher education.
Besides, it has had a great impact on the development of skills in Mexico. Through this education, people acquire knowledge and skills that allow them to develop a wide range of necessary skills for their personal and professional growth.
Formal education in Mexico focuses on providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills for their complete development. Throughout formal education, students have the opportunity to acquire skills in areas such as:
Formal education in Mexico has a significant impact on people's personal and professional development. By acquiring knowledge and skills through formal education, people can have to access to better employment opportunities: Formal education provides the students with the necessary skills to work in various occupations and fields of activity. With a formal education, people are more likely to find work, have access to career development opportunities, or become self-employed.
What are good teaching practices in this type of education?
Digitalization: The use of digital technologies in the classroom, such as computers, mobile devices and interactive whiteboards, has enriched the teaching-learning process.
When teaching skills is focused on the students, education advances in skills and abilities, as critical thinking, problem solving, effective communication, and collaboration that are essential to improve free and critical learners. It can be said that reading comprehension and mathematics skills are fundamental for the development of children and young people.
Adapting the curriculum: individualization of learning is encouraged, adapting the content and methodologies to the specific needs of each student so that the learning is more personalized and meaningful.
Every six-year period, the processes, methodologies, teaching and evaluation strategies are updated in order to offer quality in education for students, taking into account the national and international labor demand, which is always in constant change.
Non-formal education is the knowledge that is not provided in an education or training center and, generally, certification is not obtained upon completion of training.
However, they are structured in nature (in teaching, duration or support objectives). This type of intentional learning is from the student's point of view. It can be more noticeable as it is more flexible for the students.
They can be artistic workshops, sports practice or the transmission of certain techniques, also allowing the learning of techniques and the acquisition of specialized knowledge to develop jobs and tasks that do not require much disciplinary difficulty. Non-formal education refers to educational processes that are not necessarily linked to the formal educational system.
Also, it includes educational activities carried out outside of the school institutions, such as training courses, workshops, community programs and continuing education activities.
These activities are designed to develop specific skills or to provide complementary knowledge to formal education.
Non-formal education plays an important role in skills development in Mexico. While formal education is the foundation of the education system, non-formal education complements and enriches formal learning by providing additional training and skill development opportunities outside the traditional school environment.
This type of education covers a wide range of programs and activities, such as professional training courses, workshops, community education programs, on-the-job training and adult education programs. These programs focus on the development of specific skills related to the labor market and social needs, with specialties in terms of knowledge.
Advantages of non-formal education
Non-formal education allows people to adapt their learning to their needs and schedules, in that way they continue to carry out their activities. This gives them the opportunity to acquire skills related to the labor and professional market in a more accessible and convenient way.
Non-formal education programs often have a practical approach that allows students to simultaneously apply and practice the skills they learn.
La educación no formal puede adaptarse rápidamente a los cambios del mercado laboral y las necesidades sociales. Esto permite a las personas desarrollar habilidades relevantes y con una actualización constante.
Non-formal education can quickly adapt to changes in the labor market and social needs. This allows people to develop relevant and constantly updated skills.
Impacts of non-formal education
Non-formal education provides people with the opportunity to acquire specific necessary skills in the labor and professional market. This allows them to increase their chances of finding better-paid employment and contribute to the economic development of the society and their family environment.
Non-formal education fosters entrepreneurship by providing individuals and the students with the skills they need to develop and manage their own businesses or ventures. This helps create jobs and economic growth.
Good practices in non-formal education in Mexico:
Ayuda a fomentar la educación sobre la importancia del cuidado del medio ambiente y el desarrollo sostenible y sustentable, promover actitudes y comportamientos ambientalmente responsables con los estudiantes, presentando un impacto positivo en la sociedad.
Helps to promote education on the importance of caring for the environment and a sustainable development, promoting responsible environmentally attitudes and behaviors with the students, presenting a positive impact on society.
Facilitates the integration of the academic learning with the community service activities, providing students with the opportunity to apply what they learn to real everyday life situations and contribute to the well-being of society in general.
Develops socio-emotional skills, such as emotional intelligence, empathy and stress management; which are essential for the personal well-being and social and work current relationships.
It is of great importance to emphasize that formal and non-formal education in Mexico are complementary and mutually reinforcing, in order to achieve quality in education in the Mexican Educational System.
Both forms of education have their importance and positive impact, and can contribute to the personal, professional and social development of the individual.
During the students’ teaching-learning process, formal and non-formal educations play an important and fundamental role so that the expected learning is achieved; both educations are still present in one of the main actors of education, the teachers. Formal education influences in the teaching-learning process in different ways:
Formal education provides a structured framework for the teaching-learning process. Establishes the educational and standards curricula that define the knowledge and skills that must be taught to the students.
Formal education provides students with the specific knowledge and skills needed to succeed in various fields of study. Through academic programs and curricula, the students can acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in various disciplines.
Formal education helps to develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through a variety of teaching methods, such as class debates, problem solving, and research projects, students learn to analyze, evaluate, and solve problems effectively.
Formal education takes into account the social and emotional development of the students. Through their interaction with their peers and teachers, students may learn about collaborative work, effective communication, and interpersonal skills.
Formal education prepares the students for their daily life and their work-professional life. Through formal education, students obtain a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that allow them to go into the workforce or continue their education at higher levels.
Non-formal education also influences the teaching-learning process in different ways:
Non-formal education offers additional learning opportunities outside the formal school environment, like extracurricular. It includes activities such as workshops, courses, conferences, clubs and extracurricular programs. These activities allow students to explore their interests, abilities and skills in areas that may not be covered by the formal curriculum.
Non-formal education is based on experimental learning, which includes learning from experience, action and reflection. Students actively participate in practical exercises, solve real problems and reflect on their experiences. This contributes to more meaningful, permanent and continuous learning.
Non-formal education promotes autonomy and self-governance in the learning process, as the students are free to choose the activities in which they wish to participate and can follow their own interests and pace of learning. This contributes to the development of internal motivation, honesty and responsibility of the students.
Non-formal education also aims to develop practical and social skills. Students can learn skills like manual skill, creativity, effective communication, collaborative work and leadership. These skills are essential in the world of work and in everyday life.
Non-formal education promotes community participation and community service. Students have the opportunity to participate in community projects and collaborative activities that would benefit the local community. This contributes to the development of a sense of civic responsibility and social responsibility among students.
Formal education plays a fundamental role in the teacher training as it provides future educators with the necessary tools and knowledge to perform their jobs effectively and responsibly.
In the first place, it provides teachers with a solid academic foundation in their specialization filed; this allows them to have a deep understanding of the topics they will teach their students and helps them to develop appropriate learning strategies to transmit that knowledge effectively.
Besides, it provides teachers with the opportunity to acquire the pedagogical and didactic skills necessary to plan, develop, implement and evaluate teaching activities. It makes it easier for them to learn and develop teaching techniques and methodologies that allow them to adapt to the needs and learning styles of their students, create an inclusive and diverse learning environment, and promote critical thinking and problem solving.
Formal education also offers future teachers the opportunity to practice in real educational settings through internships and professional scholarships. This allows them to apply what they learn in the classroom and helps them to develop skills in managing students in the classroom during the teaching of their lessons, managing discipline, effective communication and collaborative work.
It also familiarizes teachers to the topics related to educational psychology, the sociology of education and pedagogy, among others. This knowledge allows them to better understand the students` development and learning, as well as the social, cultural and economic factors that influence education.
Non-formal education plays an important role in teacher preparation as it supplements formal education and offers additional opportunities for the teachers’ learning and professional development.
It includes activities such as workshops, seminars, courses, posgrade courses or training programs that take place outside the school or the university environment. These activities offer teachers the opportunity to expand their knowledge and develop new skills related to teaching and pedagogy.
In non-formal education, teachers can take updating courses in certain specific areas of their field, such as educational technology, inclusive education or language teaching. These courses allow them to keep up to date with the latest teaching trends, methods and techniques, and give them the tools to improve their teaching practice.
Besides, it provides opportunities for teachers to exchange experiences and knowledge with other educational staff. Workshops and seminars encourage the exchange of ideas and perspectives and allow teachers to learn from the experiences and successes of their colleagues.
It also promotes the continuous professional development of teachers, through participation in training and development programs, teachers can expand their range of teaching skills and teaching competencies, allowing them to address more effectively educational challenges and adapt to the changing needs of students.
CONCLUSIONS
Formal education provides a structured framework, specific knowledge and skills, development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, social and emotional skills, and life preparation and career.
All of this positively influences in the teaching-learning process and helps the students to reach their full academic potential.
It is essential in teacher training, as it provides future educators with a solid base of knowledge in their specialization field, helps them to acquire the necessary and innovative pedagogical and didactic skills, offers them the opportunity to practice in real educational environments and presents relevant topics of education.
All of this contributes to training capable, competent and prepared teachers to face the challenges of the current education.
Non-formal education expands learning opportunities, encourages firsthand learning, promotes autonomy and self-direction, develops practical and social skills, and promotes community participation.
These positive influences on the teaching-learning process help students develop a more complete education and acquire important skills and competencies for their life and for their future professional career.
Also, it plays a complementary and enriching role in teacher training. Providing additional opportunities for learning and professional development, and allowing teachers to stay up to date in their field and improve their teaching practice.
The combination of formal and non-formal education in the teacher training contributes to a more complete and quality training for educators, in this way the quality of education that the Mexican educational system has always sought is offered.
REFERENCES
Aguirre-Quezada, J. P. (2021). Retos y desafíos de la educación en México en el marco del centenario de la Secretaría de Educación Pública. http://bibliodigitalibd.senado.gob.mx/bitstream/handle/123456789/5402/ML%20209.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Marúm-Espinosa, E., & Reynoso-Cantú, E. (2014). La importancia de la educación no formal para el desarrollo humano sustentable en México. Revista Iberoamericana de Educación Superior, 5(12),137-155.
Smitter, Y. (2006). Hacia una perspectiva sistemática de la educación no formal. [Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador, Instituto Pedagógico de Miranda “José Manuel Siso Martínez”]. https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=76102213
Soto Kiewit, L. D., Segura Jiménez, A., Navarro Rojas, Óscar, Cedeño Rojas, S., & Medina Díaz, R. (2023). Educación formal, no formal e informal y la innovación: Innovar para educar y educar para innovar. Innovaciones Educativas, 25(38), 77–96.
Soto-Fernández, J. R., & Espidillo-Bello, X. E. (1999). La educación formal, No formal e Informal y la función docente. Innovación Educativa, 9, 311-323.