Which term best describes learning that occurs without explicit instruction?

Incidental learning is a term that refers to the acquisition of knowledge and skills in a spontaneous and informal manner, often without the intention of learning. It occurs in everyday situations, where individuals absorb information through interactions with their environment, conversations, or experiences, rather than through a structured educational program. For instance, a person might learn new vocabulary by overhearing conversations or pick up cultural norms by participating in social activities. This type of learning emphasizes the idea that much of what we learn happens outside of formal educational settings, highlighting the importance of context and experience in the learning process.

In contrast, the other options involve different structures of learning. Formal learning is typically characterized by a structured curriculum and intentional teaching, often occurring in educational institutions. Active learning involves engagement and participation in the learning process through activities, discussions, and hands-on experiences but still usually happens within a structured learning environment. Structured learning, similar to formal learning, is organized and directed, often involving systematic teaching methods. All these alternatives emphasize intentionality or structure in the learning process, which differentiates them from incidental learning where the learning occurs naturally and often unexpectedly.