Educational Terminology: “Learners” vs “Students”

When you research topics related to learning, you will come across the word student, but you will also come across the term learner. The word learner is not one you come across often outside of the academic field, why is that?

The reason is that the terms carry slightly different (but important) connotations.

Learners is a broader term that encompasses anyone who is engaged in the learning process, regardless of age, context, or setting. It includes children, adolescents, and adults, whether they are in formal education, self-directed learning, or professional development. The term learners emphasizes the active role individuals play in acquiring knowledge or skills and to be inclusive of the various learning contexts.

Students, on the other hand, typically refers to individuals enrolled in formal educational settings, such as schools, colleges, or universities. This term is more specific and may not include people engaged in informal or self-directed learning. Learning literature might use the term students when discussing research or strategies specifically related to formal educational settings.

So, there you have it: An interesting answer to a seemingly trivial question. Students are people enrolled in some sort of formal educational setting, while learners are people who are actively learning something, regardless of the setting.