Eight in 10 Brits believe lessons learnt outside the classroom are more important
Eight in 10 Brits believe the lessons learnt in the 'university of life' are more important than anything they were taught in school or college.
A poll of 2,000 adults found the competences 53 per cent rely on for practical everyday life are actually self-taught. In fact, 67 per cent confirmed the most useful skills they have today were learned outside the classroom.
As, on average, they have acquired 22 new skills for navigating life since leaving full-time education. These include understanding how to use new technology (55 per cent), cook a meal from scratch (48 per cent), managing money (60 per cent), and prepare for a job interview (56 per cent).
The research was commissioned by Samsung to mark the launch of its Galaxy Tab S12 Series, including Note Assist to help summarise notes and aid with learning, which offers a flexible way to watch, learn, and create at an individual pace.
Many are also keen to keep expanding their repertoire, seeking to learn or improve their ability to tackle basic DIY (16 per cent), car maintenance (13 per cent), and household repairs (13 per cent).
While 77 per cent wished they had been taught more practical lessons in school, 85 per cent said learning through experience has taught them things formal education never could, as 87 per cent said they were pushed into learning a new skill because they suddenly needed to learn how to do something by themselves.
Situations prompting this included moving away from home (26 per cent) and starting a new job (27 per cent). As well as an unexpected problem or emergency (37 per cent) or buying their own home (29 per cent).
Perhaps as a result, 64 per cent are confident in their ability to teach themselves new everyday know-how as they navigate adulthood, since 87 per cent agreed you never really stop learning new things to help you along in life.
When it comes to gaining skills, many will turn to online tutorials or videos (50 per cent) and digital tools (36 per cent) as key sources of knowledge. Likely because 73 per cent said having information, tutorials and guidance readily available has made it easier for them to learn something new.
Whereas 89 per cent admitted they have searched online for instructions on how to do something as they felt they “should already know”, while 56 per cent have used an app or digital tool to help.
Alongside technology, trial and error (46 per cent), asking for advice from mum and partners (37 per cent) was also heavily relied upon when developing new know how.
Mistakes make up an important part of the process, with 50 per cent believing they have learned more from getting something wrong and trying again than from advice from someone they know (43 per cent).
Charlie Nordfeldt, from Samsung UK and Ireland, said: “We know learning doesn’t stop when formal education ends. From mastering a recipe to managing money or developing a new skill for work, people are constantly finding new ways to tackle the unfamiliar.”