Free Certificate Programs

This innovative program immerses museum, zoo, aquarium and science outreach professionals and volunteers in informal and free-choice learning theories. Participants will work with some of the field’s leading researchers and learn how to apply informal learning environments theories in real-world educational settings.

Participants can earn the Informal & Free-Choice Learning Professional Certificate by completing each required course for this program or take individual courses without enrolling in the professional certificate program.

What is Informal Learning?

Informal, or free-choice, learning is all about deciding what, where and how we want to learn over the course of our lifetimes. It's the learning that takes place all the time, outside of the classroom, no matter how young or old you are.

• Personal, socio-cultural and physical dimensions of free-choice learning and informal learning theory.
• Learn from Oregon State University scholars leading the field of free-choice learning research.