I define informal learning as any learning that takes place outside the classroom. I realize that’s a broad definition, but it tends to work when I try to get my clients to understand that more learning and development options exist outside of the formal training programs they so often ask for. Typically, clients who come to me with a performance problem believe that formal training is always the answer. My job is to determine the root cause so we can find an appropriate solution, which may or may not be a formal training program.