--- title: "Daily Buzz: The Difference Between Learning and Education" id: "47646" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-the-difference-between-learning-and-education" published_at: "2019-08-12T20:35:35+00:00" modified_at: "2019-08-12T20:35:35+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/12/daily-buzz-the-difference-between-learning-and-education/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/08/12/daily-buzz-the-difference-between-learning-and-education.md" excerpt: "“Learning” and “education” are not synonymous. Here’s what they each mean—and what your organization should focus on. Also: an adorable moment at the 2019 ASAE Annual Meeting." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "E-learning" - "Education Law" - "persona development" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: The Difference Between Learning and Education They say knowledge is power, and in this case, it’s never too late to get in the know on the difference between “learning” and “education.” [Jeff Cobb from Mission to Learn (opens in a new tab)](https://www.missiontolearn.com/learning-vs-education/) defines learning as “the lifelong process of transforming information and experience into knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes.” Education, on the other hand, is just one structured option within this process. Why does it matter? “When we equate learning with education, we’re more likely to focus on generating *answers*. On providing structure; on optimizing for performance and achievement,” Cobb says. “Real learning, on the other hand, is about *questions*, about navigating ambiguity. To reference my definition again, it is as much about attitude and behavior as it is about knowledge and skills. Arguably it is more about these things in our current environment.” Other than getting smart on the way we communicate on these topics, Cobb says organizations—and people as a whole—need to place more emphasis on real learning. “Learning is not confined within the walls of an institution or the structure of a class. It happens in the flow of life. It is rooted in physicality and emotion as much as in cognition,” he says. “When we shift to seeing learning in this way, it becomes much easier to recognize and take advantage of the myriad opportunities for learning that we encounter daily.” ### Cute Sights at ASAE’s Annual Meeting https://twitter.com/HeatherPownall/status/1160896854965587968 **Nothing says “Good morning!”**like a meet and greet with baby animals. Attendees at this year’s [ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition (opens in a new tab)](https://annual.asaecenter.org/) in Columbus, Ohio, were met by furry and feathery friends from the Columbus Zoo on their way to morning sessions. The critters didn’t have much to say about associations—but hey, at least they’re cute! ### Other Links of Note **Need membership recruitment inspiration?** The Wild Apricot blog offers [101 ways to increase membership counts (opens in a new tab)](https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2019/08/09/ways-to-get-new-members) . **Defining employee roles** can add value to team members’ jobs, [says Nonprofit Hub (opens in a new tab)](https://nonprofithub.org/featured/roll-with-your-role-feeling-valued-in-the-workplace/) . **For meeting planners** feeling overwhelmed, [MeetingsNet offers a stress-management guide (opens in a new tab)](https://www.meetingsnet.com/health-wellness/stress-management-planners-guide) to help prevent burnout. (ThomasVogel/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#E-learning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/e-learning/) [#Education Law](https://associationsnow.com/tag/education-law/) [#persona development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/persona-development/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoDeb Callahan Shares Her CAE JourneyOctober 26, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/26/deb-callahan-shares-her-cae-journey/) - [VideoTobin Conley Shares His CAE JourneyOctober 26, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/26/tobin-conley-shares-his-cae-journey/) - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents Practical AI-How Associations Are Putting It To WorkJanuary 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/01/29/associations-now-presents-practical-ai-how-associations-are-putting-it-to-work/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F08%2F12%2Fdaily-buzz-the-difference-between-learning-and-education%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !