A poll of 2,000 adults has revealed that more than half of people (53%) rely on self-taught life skills for practical everyday life. More than two thirds (67%) confirmed the most useful things they have learnt over the years were taught away from the classroom.
On average, adults have acquired 22 new skills for navigating life since leaving school. These include understanding how to use new technology (55%), cooking a meal from scratch (48%), managing money (60%), and preparing for a job interview (56%).
Desire for practical lessons
Many are also keen to keep learning more, including how to tackle basic DIY (16%), car maintenance (13%), or household repairs (13%). A further 77% wished they had been taught practical life skills in school, as 85% said learning through experience has taught them things formal education never could.
Nearly nine in 10 (87%) 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%), starting a new job (27%), facing an unexpected problem or emergency (37%), or buying their own home (29%).
The role of technology
When it comes to gaining skills, many turn to online videos and step-by-step tutorials (50%) and digital tools (36%). This is likely because nearly three quarters (73%) said having guidance readily available has made it easier to learn something new quickly.
However, nine in 10 admitted they have searched online for instructions on how to do something they felt they “should already know”, while 56% have used an app or digital tool to help find answers. Alongside technology, trial and error (46%) and asking for advice from mum and partners (37%) were also relied upon.
Mistakes play an important part in the process, with exactly half believing they have learned more from getting something wrong and trying again than from advice from someone they know (43%).
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.
