We’ve become interested in the long-term benefits of self-directed learning: a process in which individuals set their own educational goals, identify appropriate strategies and resources to achieving those goals, and then evaluate outcome of their efforts.
Sound familiar? Self-directed learning is something that adults have to do everyday. Whether we’re starting a business, trying new parenting strategies, or making an investment, self-directed learning is a crucial skill for those of us who’ve left the structured world of the education system.
As a great article on Help Teaching’s website puts it, self-directed learning is all about learning how to learn: “When your boss asks you to take on a new project, you don’t toss your arms up and say, ‘I can’t do it.’ Rather, you develop an action plan and get to work. If you encounter something of interest, you learn more by reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, or interacting with others in person and virtually. You have learned how to learn.”
So how can we empower our children to be self-directed learners? For parents and educators, the answer is a combination of gently pointing kids in the right direction and staying out of their way.
Read More Here: http://laurussummercamp.com/2018/02/17/self-directed-learning/