How can you help children develop the skills and attitudes for self-directed learning?

1 Encourage curiosity

Curiosity is the spark that ignites self-directed learning. It is the desire to explore, discover, and learn more about the world and oneself. You can encourage curiosity in children by exposing them to diverse topics, experiences, and perspectives, by asking open-ended questions, by praising their efforts and interests, and by supporting their choices and preferences. You can also model curiosity yourself by sharing your own questions, passions, and learning journeys.

2 Teach goal-setting

Goal-setting is the skill of defining what you want to learn, why you want to learn it, and how you will measure your progress and success. It is a key skill for self-directed learning, as it helps children to focus, prioritize, and motivate themselves. You can teach goal-setting to children by helping them to identify their strengths, interests, and challenges, by guiding them to set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals, by providing feedback and encouragement, and by celebrating their achievements.

3 Foster metacognition

Metacognition is the ability to think about your own thinking and learning. It is a crucial skill for self-directed learning, as it enables children to monitor, evaluate, and adjust their learning strategies, methods, and outcomes. You can foster metacognition in children by asking them to reflect on their learning process, by encouraging them to use self-assessment tools and rubrics, by facilitating peer feedback and collaboration, and by teaching them to use learning logs, journals, or portfolios.

4 Promote autonomy

Autonomy is the sense of control and ownership over your own learning. It is a vital attitude for self-directed learning, as it empowers children to make decisions, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. You can promote autonomy in children by giving them choices and options, by respecting their opinions and preferences, by allowing them to work at their own pace and level, and by creating a safe and supportive learning environment.

5 Cultivate resilience

Resilience is the ability to cope with challenges, setbacks, and failures. It is an essential attitude for self-directed learning, as it helps children to overcome obstacles, persevere, and learn from their experiences. You can cultivate resilience in children by modeling a growth mindset, by providing constructive criticism and support, by encouraging them to seek help and resources, and by acknowledging their efforts and improvements.

6 Nurture passion

Passion is the feeling of enthusiasm and enjoyment for learning. It is a powerful attitude for self-directed learning, as it drives children to pursue their interests, express their creativity, and share their learning with others. You can nurture passion in children by exposing them to inspiring role models, by providing them with authentic and meaningful learning opportunities, by recognizing their talents and contributions, and by joining them in their learning adventures.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?