Informal Learning in Uncertain Times

Amid escalating social, political, environmental, and technological instability, adults increasingly rely on informal learning to navigate rapidly changing conditions. Drawing on a scoping review of empirical studies published during the COVID‐19 pandemic (2020‐August 2022), this chapter examines how informal learning functions when formal systems are disrupted or inaccessible. The twenty‐nine studies included in the review highlight informal learning as a primary adaptive mechanism through which adults sustained work, caregiving, community ties, and personal development during crisis. Three dynamics shaped this process: The need for rapid adaptation; uneven access to digital tools and infrastructures; and the central role of community networks in enabling continuity and wellbeing. Together, these findings position informal learning as both a vital resource and a site of inequality. The chapter concludes by outlining strategies for building more resilient informal learning systems that can support adults amid future disruptions.