Most helpful grownup expertise learnt outdoors college, ballot finds
Eight in 10 Brits believe the lessons learnt in the real world are more important than anything they were taught in school.
Brits are keen to learn how to do basic car maintenance themselves(Image: Getty)
A poll of 2,000 adults found the knowledge more than half of people (53%) rely on for practical everyday life are actually self-taught. More than two thirds (67%) confirmed the most useful skills they have learnt over the years were developed away from the classroom and out in the real world.
On average, they have acquired 22 new skills for navigating life since leaving full-time education and entering adult life on their own. These include understanding how to use brand new technology (55%), cook a meal from scratch (48%), managing their money (60%), and prepare for a nerve-wracking job interview (56%).
Nearly seven in 10 said the most useful skills they have were learned outside the classroom(Image: Getty)
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, which offers a flexible way to watch, learn, and create at an individual pace.
Many are also keen to keep expanding what they know, excited to learn or improve their ability to tackle basic DIY (16%), car maintenance (13%), and 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 by comparison.
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.
16% of Brits want to improve their DIY skills(Image: Getty)
Situations that prompted this included leaving the nest and moving away from home (26%) and taking the leap to start a new job (27%). They’ve also had to take matters into their own hands when facing an unexpected problem or emergency (37%) or buying their own home (29%).
Perhaps as a result, 64% are confident in their ability to teach themselves new everyday know-how as they navigate adulthood.
Nearly nine in 10 (87%) agreed you never really stop learning new things to help you along in life.
When it comes to gaining skills, many will turn to online videos and step-by-step tutorials (50%) and digital tools (36%) as key fountains of knowledge.
This is likely because nearly three quarters (73%) said having this guidance readily available has made it easier for them to quickly learn something new.
Nearly half of Brits had to learn how to cook from scratch outside of school(Image: Getty/Nick David)
However, 89% 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%), asking for advice from mum and partners (37%) was also heavily relied upon when developing new skills.
Mistakes make up an important part of 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%).
“From mastering a recipe to managing money or developing a new skill for work, people are constantly finding new ways to tackle the unfamiliar.”
