Jump to navigation Jump to search For other uses, see Education (disambiguation) . Education is the process of facilitating learning , or the acquisition of knowledge , skills , values , beliefs , and habits. Educational methods include story telling , discussion , teaching , training , and directed research . Education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, however learners may also educate themselves . [1] Education can take place in formal or informal settings and any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational. The methodology of teaching is called pedagogy . Formal education is commonly divided formally into such stages as preschool or kindergarten , primary school , secondary school and then college , uni...