Description
In this presentation, the contested nature of informal and formal pedagogical approaches will be discussed, illuminating a number of complexities and compounding factors that influence teacher pedagogy in contemporary education. To aid increased understanding and capture some of the complexities of informal and formal teaching and learning, new terminology and an accompanying model will be proposed: a pedagogy of informal-formal equilibrium (Mariguddi 2026). The model will be informed by the findings of two key projects that trace the development of informal learning pedagogy in music education on a national and international scale, spanning across 10 years of study.A pedagogy of informal-formal equilibrium includes consideration of various factors which impact upon teacher practice, for example, student needs, teacher identity and values, school context, policy and professional responsibility. The model draws upon the work of Folkestad (2006), imagining informal-formal pedagogies on a continuum, on which teachers can slide along and flip between either end. Furthermore, additional considerations are included to increase the dimensions of the model: the situation, learning style, ownership and situation (Folkestad, 2006). A pedagogy of informal-formal equilibrium can apply to a variety of educational contexts, and delegates will be encouraged to reflect upon how the model might apply to their own practice.
Folkestad, G. (2006), ‘Formal and Informal Learning Situations or Practices vs Formal and Informal Ways of Learning’, British Journal of Music Education, 23 (2): 135–45.
Mariguddi, A. (2026), Informal learning in music education: exploring theory in practice, Bloomsbury Publishing.
| Period | 17 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Edge Hill University Faculty of Education Conference 2026: Improving life chances and making hope possible through education. |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | National |
Keywords
- Music education
- Informal learning
- Pedagogy