A Summer of Stories – Self-directed Learning All Around
Sometimes it seems as if stories just need to be told. For me, I often notice a tidbit here and a snippet there about somebody and it piques my interest. At some point I become fascinated enough that I’d like to understand more. Specifically, there have been many glimpses of self-directed learning that seem to have crossed my path and I have become curious about the stories behind them.
Self-directed learning holds interest for me in a couple of ways … the actual process as well as the way it plays out for different people. That second part is where the stories come in:).
Self-directed learning can be seen as growth, knowledge or skill that is developed from a place of intrinsic motivation. That’s it in a nutshell for me. There are more academic and thorough descriptions than this, certainly, but the inherent drive to learn and work toward things and the different ways that happens are what I find interesting. Sometimes it’s more of an internal processing that isn’t as evident to others. Sometimes it results in concrete output, such as a project or vocation. Sometimes it’s very solitary. Other times it becomes collaborative. Always it is authentic, unimposed and belongs to the learner.
Usually, I’m thinking about this from the perspective of watching kids. Of watching them them learn what they’re ready for and express it in their own way. Of observing them as they work toward something that is theirs alone or something they’d like to be part of. Of watching the way they put their individual spin on things.
What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not the knowledge in pursuit of the child. – George Bernard Shaw
But people of all ages direct their learning to one degree or another…
I had the opportunity to be part of a visual arts program that was brought into a long term care facility over the course of a few years. I was partnering as an extra set of hands. It was a fun time each week with music playing while residents of the home who wanted to try their hand at it worked away at a variety of art projects. What struck me from the first day I was there was how specific many of the participants were about which brush they chose and which colours they used. Certainly more for some than others, but there were several who took their work very seriously. There were three women who always worked past the end of the program, while others headed to lunch. There was one woman, in particular, who worked meticulously to learn the various techniques, but always, always with her own twist. None of these participants had to be there. The participants who really threw themselves into it didn’t need to put as much energy into it as they did. There was no money to be gained, no notoriety of any great degree, no marks being given or punishment if they didn’t complete it.
So, why make the decision to go down and wait patiently for art supplies to be handed out? Why work so hard with aging hands to create something unique from the demonstrated project? Why risk being late for lunch 😉?! I guess it’s what we do. We think and imagine and build and create and strive toward new things, and apparently, we do this at all ages.
I’ve also been drawn in by finding out more about people’s entrepreneurial pursuits. I believe that increasingly, the world is going to need people with innovative, creative energy. We all have it. For some it seems to come about a bit more easily and maybe it has just been better preserved, but ultimately, I think it’s alive and well in many people.
So, now continuing on with that second part … the way self-directed learning plays out for different people. I’ve had the honour of having several people of varying ages and stages, adults and children, agree to share stories of their learning and work … learning and work of their own choosing and motivation. Although, we’ve had conversation, their stories will be shared here in a written interview from the beginning of each week through July and August.
We begin with Linda’s story of lifelong learning, growing and sharing, beginning in 1940s Nova Scotia and still going strong.
Lifelong Learning from Trinidad to Canada
Everyday Learning, Creating and Exploring
Just Everyday, Ordinary Learning
The Things Kids Play and Learn
A Lifelong Passion for Animals at 13 Years Old
My hope is that you might join us:).
*Top photo is of one of the boardwalks that M helped build with a small work crew at provincial park.
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I love the photos in this post and that you’re looking at learning from such different perspectives. Sounds like a wonderful program you were involved in.
Wholeheartedly agree the world needs people with innovative, creative energy and heartened by your faith that we all have it 🙂
Looking forward to reading the stories, thanks Erin.
Thanks so much, Hayley. I’m looking forward to continuing with the stories as well. It’s been really interesting to have these conversations with people.