Why you don't have to have all the answers to be able to educate your kids! Plus, 10 questions to encourage self-directed learning.

Today, we're exploring the concept of self-directed learning strategies. Now, we're not just talking about Googling an answer to a quick question. We're going deep into methodologies that empower students to take the reins of their own educational journey. Indeed, once you understand how to foster self-directed learning, it’s like unlocking a whole new world of educational potential.

Self-directed learning is a process in which learners are in charge of organizing, carrying out, and assessing their own learning opportunities. Self-directed learning is a process in which learners take charge of identifying their learning needs, developing learning goals, and locating human and material resources for learning. It also

The goal of the model isn't content knowledge (though it should produce that), but rather something closer to wisdom--learning how to learn.

A few days ago, I posted a picture on my Instagram account that got a really positive response. You guys saw my self-directed learning progression and you all said you wanted it! Since you wanted it, it's up for free in my Teachers Pay Teachers store, so grab it now before you forget!! Click here or on the picture below to grab your copy. I like this learning progression because it helps the students to assess where they are in three areas: academics, problem-solving capabilities, and social-emotional development. The rubric is also growth mindset-friendly because it moves from "Not Yet" all the way to "Wow!!!" I used my school's poster maker to make a big copy of this progression. It hangs on our wall next to our class rules. We refer to it often. I also use these with students sometimes--they just circle the one they feel best describes where they are at a given moment. I have two versions of the rubric, one that mentions "CARES" (a Responsive Classroom idea) and one that just mentions "good classroom citizenship." Pick the one that works for you and start using it! If you don't discuss CARES in your classroom, I absolutely recommend introducing it at the beginning of the year. These social skills are all-encompassing. If you've got these 5 qualities under control, you're in a really good place! I always mention these to my students and say that one of our class goals will be to develop these qualities as individuals. Did you download the learning progression yet? If not, what are you waiting for?! Click here to grab it! By the way, if you haven't already subscribed, we'd love to have you! Join our community by signing up in the box right under my bio to the right. That way, you won't miss any blog posts. I promise not to clutter your inbox! Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more classroom ideas than I put on my blog.

Whether it’s unschooling or child-led homeschooling, self-directed learning is an approach to education that is growing in popularity, and for good reason.

This resource is included in the Pets Unit for Elementary ELL- Starters LINK: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pets-Unit-for-Elementary-ELL-Starters-10780015 Teaching the Prepositions of location are essential in constructing longer sentences to express the relationship between objects and the pets, in this case I focused on the dogs. Proficiency in prepositions facilitates language development. Start by printing your dog and the prepositions flashcards to provide clarity to describe spatial relationship with precision using the dog as the center of the activity. Teacher: The dog is on the bed. There is a set of cutouts in color and b/w to aid the comprehension of the prepositions. They work well for listening and speaking activities. Have your set ready and the students will create their own by coloring the cutouts and adding an opened clip behind each cutout to have them stand. Learners will understand instructions and use the cutouts to physically show what was said. Teacher: The dog is next to the doghouse. Students can give directions for the class to perform. Print the quilt mats, it comes with the pictures only and the words only, use it either way. This is my example. I used the picture quilt and cut all the words to do the match. Students will place the preposition word on each picture and say the sentence: The dog is between the dohouse and the ball. Or use the quilts as cards to match and check the understanding of the new language. Use the picture cards to play with the puzzle templates. This game will help your students understand the sentence structure, word order and the grammatical rule for the use of prepostions. A few worksheets to practice writing and understanding sentences with prepositions. Students will show that they are able to comprehend the prepositions effectively. This is a reading comprehension worksheet that can be easily assigned as independent tasks, promoting self-directed learning to reinforce their reading skills The worksheets can be used as a review for the students to check the understanding of the prepositions and for you to identify if the learner needs more support. I do have another blog for Kindergarten English Language Learners with more resources for the pet unit. Click here: www.eflpreschoolteachers.blogspot.com

The learner is at the heart of the process of self-directed learning. And the learner’s heart drives the process. Learners lead the process by determining what matters to them, their interest…

This is a page of the first FREE section of the MWL 2020 resource; there are 25 sections in all. You can purchase access to the full resource HERE ← Full Contents | Section 1 Contents The individual lies at the heart of continuous learning and development in the modern organisation with both managers and …

Sylvia Duckworth's graphic illustrates questions students can use to guide inquiry-based learning ideas that act as a catalyst for curiosity.

Discover the key principles of montessori method that unlock curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Read Now!!

Whoever said that we never stop being learners couldn't have been more right. From our daily routine tasks to the skills required at school and on the job, everything requires us to constantly change, adapt and most importantly learn. This would not be possible if individuals did not take

Self directed learning contracts to develop independence and individuality. A guide to set up individualized learning programs - unique tailor made curriculum.

ICT in education management is transforming the way education is perceived and delivered. Learn how it is enhancing education around the globe.

This guide to questioning in the classroom views questions as signs of understanding, not ignorance--the ability to see what you're missing.

sachachua.com/blog/2014/01/getting-better-learning/ - Blogged

"These Videos Explore Ideas and Techniques and Offer Real World Examples That can Help Inspire a Self-Directed Learning Mindset in Your Students Just about anyone working in education sees Self-Directed Learning as a hugely desirable outcome." Jim Lerman's insight: Some very good material here. Via Dean J. Fusto

Pedagogy had always established an unequal relation between the teacher and the taught. Andragogy stepped in to rectify this and foster awareness about how adults learned. However, the premise was that there was someone doing the "teaching" so to speak. While the principles of Andragogy clearly stated what it takes to motivate adults to learn, the role of a teacher / the expert remained undisputed. Knowles (1970, p7) defined self-directed learning as: “The process in which individuals take the initiative, with or without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identifying human and material resources for learning, choosing and implementing learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes.” Then came Heutagogy advocating principles of self-determined learning. “A heutagogical learning environment facilitates the development of capable learners and emphasizes both the development of learner competencies as well as development of the learner’s capability and capacity to learn" (Ashton and Newman, 2006; Hase and Kenyon, 2000). "Heutagogy applies a holistic approach to developing learner capabilities, with learning as an active and proactive process, and learners serving as “the major agent in their own learning, which occurs as a result of personal experiences” (Hase & Kenyon, 2007, p. 112). IMHO, a heutagogical approach is essential today. And I have attempted to discuss “WHY” I think so in the post here. As the Creative Economy, the Knowledge Era, the Connected Age—call it what you will—sets in and its impact begins to be felt in all spheres of life—personal, professional, institutional—it is becoming imperative to take charge of one’s own learning, development and career graph. Job descriptions are giving way to or soon will give way to competency-based profiles (primarily because it is going to be difficult if not impossible to capture aspects of jobs we are not even aware of). It is going to be up to each individual to pick up skills and knowledge on the go even as they do their work. Will past experience help? Of course! But not in the usual way we recognize, that is, replicate what we did in the past to be successful today. Past experiences can help us to make sense of the present, analyze and see patterns—but our responses must be driven by the context and reality of the present. This is where we enter the Complex and Chaotic domains of the Cynefin framework. In the Complex domain: “Complex – relationship between cause & effect can only be perceived in retrospect. We should Probe – Sense – Respond & we can test emergent practices.” http://www.jarche.com/2014/02/actually-its-not-complicated/ As long as the work environment hovered between the Simple and Complicated domains, organizations and their L&D departments could take charge of the “learning”—via top-down training programs, elearning courses, and refresher training and help people apply the best practices and the good practices—pillars of what made the Industrial Era so successful. The L&D and HR had to ensure that employees received some 12 days of training per year and hope that this would make employees effective and efficient at their work and deliver business results. However, with the passing of the Industrial Era, this model has gradually failed leading to training departments being questioned on their efficacy and worth. The reality is the context has changed so dramatically that the cure of the past is no longer successful in solving the challenges of the present. Even instructionally sound programs based on the principles of Andragogy have failed to meet the needs of the hour. With the advent of the creative economy, there is barely any hope that such training programs will work to build proficiency and capabilities that can meet the demands of the day. In the creative economy, all meaningful work is happening and will continue to transpire in the Complex domain where the “relationship between cause & effect can only be perceived in retrospect”. This calls for responses on the go and the ability to extract learning. I have captured some of the key aspects in the diagram below: Click on the image to see a larger version http://idreflections.blogspot.in/2014/03/drivers-of-workplace-learning-in.html With respect to extracting learning, Charles Jennings has written a very insightful post here: http://charles-jennings.blogspot.in/2013/10/workplace-learning-adding-embedding.html Quoting him here: “The model of ‘learn then work’ is replaced here with ‘work then learn, then work in an improved way’. Learning is not only embedded in the workflow, but new learning is continually extracted from experiences and exchanges with colleagues, customers and the entire value chain.” (The highlight is mine.) What Charles J has said is similar to how response happens in the Complex domain of the Cynefin framework and leads to emergent practices – “working in an improved way”. And it can only happen in retrospect. This ability to respond requires employees / learners who are able to “extract learning” and know “how to learn”. He further writes that: “Examples of this type of workplace learning include narrating work and sharing with colleagues – often achieved by micro-blogging on a regular (possibly daily) basis; active participation in professional social networks is another example.” This ties back to the concepts of micro-learning and learning flows discussed in the blog posts here and here. What have work in the Complex domain, the Creative Economy, and Learning Flows got to do with Heutagogy? A fair bit, I think. A heutagogical approach emphasizes that learners negotiate their learning and learning outcomes. This is also closely tied to the concept of capability: “Capable people are those who: know how to learn; are creative; have a high degree of self-efficacy; can apply competencies in novel as well as familiar situations; and can work well with others. In comparison with competencies which consist of knowledge and skills, capability is a holistic attribute.” (The highlight is mine.) ~ http://www.psy.gla.ac.uk/~steve/pr/Heutagogy.html Today’s organizations require people to be capable, to drive their own learning and cooperate to learn together. In return, organizations (if they wish to survive, grown and retain talent) have to let go of the cultural and structural relics of the industrial era, be transparent, and support and sustain a culture of cooperation. The L&D department needs to facilitate and empower all employees to become learners – “learners who have the capability to effectively and creatively apply skills and competencies to new situations in an ever-changing, complex world”. ~ file:///D:/Sahana/ID%20Stuff/Heutagogy.pdf It is no longer very important (at least in most occasions) to be trained on specifics. If the value of what the organization is seeking to do is evident to the employees, if they are made to feel as much a part of the organization as those in the C-suite, and see how the outcomes achieved will impact them personally, they will take the onus to drive their own learning. This, however, is proving to be the toughest part with most organizations used to creating monetary value for stakeholders, and not emotional value for employees. In the next post, I am going to delve deeper into various aspects of Heutagogy and how it could be one of the fundamental principles behind the success of courses disseminated the MOOC way—whether by institutions via platforms like EdX and Coursera or by corporates seeking to optimize learning and performance in the workplace. Related articles Heutagogy Highlights - Conference in Prague, March 2013

L&D professionals still have a critical role to play in supporting employees who are applying self-directed learning strategies.

Learning on your own can be really hard. Once you get past the basics, there aren't that many books or courses about what you're interested in. It makes sense. It takes effort to make a book or course, and authors and teachers tend to prefer larger markets. As you gain experience, you need more specialized …

Much like project-based learning, there are many reasons to use inquiry-based learning in your classroom--starting with creativity and personalization.

We help organizations and thought-leaders in telling their stories and ideas visually. We Leverage Sketchnotes to Synthesize and Simplify Ideas Enable Learning Provoke Thinking and Reflection Connect People With Ideas Facilitate Conversations Inspire Better Performance Why Visuals Work? We combine our "hands-on" leadership experience with visual tools like sketchnotes to offer: Visual Facilitation and Collaboration

A self-assessment for students. The self-assessment allows students to reflect on their learning skills. This simplified 21st Century Learning Skills Self-Assessment allows students to reflect on 6 different areas: 1. Self-Directed Learner 2. Critical Thinker 3. Effective Communicator 4. Community Contributor 5. Quality Producer 6. Effective & Ethical User of Technology Perfect for: - Fostering student ownership of their learning and actions - Fostering a Growth Mindset - Parent-student-teacher conferences - Data Collection - Back to School/New Year Activities - Establishing Norms and Routines - Self-Reflection - SEL Activity What's Included: -Google Doc Editable File -PDF File If you'd like access to tutorial videos that go with this activity, please fill out this FORM.

How can you be better tomorrow than you were today as a teacher? Try working with these 10 self-reflective questions to make change happen.

The way we learn today is incredibly different than previous generations. With the internet at our fingertips, we’ve got unlimited access to most, if not all, of the information that exists. Today’s students are definitely influenced by this move toward self-directed learning, which likely accounts

This would be a teacher that, rather than distributing content and assessing, actually leads the learning experience from ground-zero.

Delight-directed homeschooling can be a remedy for mid-winter burnout, but it can also be an all-the-time homeschooling style. It is a method of education that allows your children to explore what they love and work at a flexible pace, ebbing and flowing with each new bunny trail.

On this worksheet, students will be given two sentences to work with. They will then rewrite each of the sentences three times. Each time, they need to add information that answers the question located to the left column. Adverbs can provide more information about the verb in a sentence, such as how, when, where, or...

Using the Math Enrichment Menus, students have the opportunity to extend their mathematical understanding through the highest levels of Bloom's Taxonomy (Analyzing, Evaluating, Creating) and Multiple Intelligences. Great for self-directed learning and differentiated instruction! Common Core State St...

Delight-directed learning is a lot like giving a mouse a cookie. One great learning resource always leads to another.

This cooperative learning strategy takes the idea of "working in pairs" up a notch.

The evolution of the web from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and now to Web 3.0 can be used a metaphor of how education should also be evolving, as a movement based on the evolution from Education 1.0 to Educa…

The following principles of modern learning are described according to their function, and the result of that function.

HyperDocs make room for more interactive, personalized, and student-directed learning. Let's look at how they work.

Well-designed project-based learning (PBL) has been shown to result in deeper learning and engaged, self-directed learners. Learn more about the five core elements of successful PBL.

Self directed learning contracts to develop independence and individuality. A guide to set up individualized learning programs - unique tailor made curriculum.