Learning Lab #1 - Learner Autonomy in Action

We’re excited to introduce our new LinkedIn newsletter where we’ll be sharing stories, tips, and helpful practices for school leaders, educators and edupreneurs.?

Whether you need the tools to bring your vision to life or you’re simply looking for inspiration, we’ve got you covered.?

In this newsletter, we’re diving into learner autonomy and sharing how it works at Learnlife.?

We’re still buzzing about the recent recognition we received for our stages of autonomy from the education innovation organisation HundrED . They compiled a list of organisations and schools that gamified learning, and we were proud to be included.?

Gamifying the stages of autonomy –and creating an authentically learner-led programme–was only one step of the process in creating a brand new learning paradigm, but it’s been one of the most critical to our success.?

Creating a learner-led community hasn’t been easy or straightforward, but ultimately it works because of the time we invest in guiding learners to become independent, passion-driven lifelong learners.??

Our model has had impressive results. Compared to their previous learning community, our learners self-report, on average, over a 100% increase in learning and well-being metrics such as confidence, creativity, and autonomous learning.

Our graduates have two things in common: They are all doing something they love and feel confident doing it.

Perhaps this is why families move from all over the globe to join Learnlife, and educators visit us to see our learning approach in action.?

Ready to get started but don’t know where to begin? Scroll down to our Tools, Tips, and Tricks section for ideas.?

Or you can download our rubrics here .?

"I'm Ready to be a Flower" - A Story About Transformation

Let me tell you a quick story about transformation.?

Hand firm, eight-year-old Tara held out the letter and addressed her mentor, Maria. “I’m ready to be a flower.” Maria smiled, took the letter, and began to unfold it. Tara didn’t move.

The case was clear: perfect attendance, high-quality outputs, and demonstrated compassion through a project to support the homeless community. Tara definitely deserved to be a “flower”, the highest level of autonomy at the Eco Hub.?

When Tara enrolled at the Eco Hub, she spoke limited English and was not adjusting well to Spain.?Often, she’d wander off or hide, unable to manage her emotions or say what she needed.

For many learners, self-esteem is the biggest blocker to becoming an autonomous learner.

In Tara’s case, this was remedied through extra support at home and at Learnlife, coupled with a deep desire to use a glue gun.?

Tara was desperate to use that glue gun, but “seeds” and “sprouts” needed a learning guide to do so. Only “flowers” could use it independently.?

We want learners to be intrinsically motivated, which is why the mini-privileges offered at each stage of autonomy aren’t random rewards, like a pizza party or funky dress-up day, but rather the logical consequence of demonstrated autonomy.?

At our first Learn Hub, the cupola was reserved for quiet, focused readers because it was a tiny space. Many learners who had not been particularly interested in reading saw their friends go to the cupola and suddenly started reading chapter books there with them.

Demonstrated autonomy earns access to certain resources and increased responsibility.?

When Tara, unprompted, came to Maria with a completed passion project template and immediately began to work on it, Maria was confident that Tara was ready for more responsibility. Similarly, Tara began cleaning the lunch tables on her own and participating more actively in learning experiences.?

There were no more signs of the nervous little girl who didn’t have many friends and hid when she was overwhelmed.?

While the stages of autonomy can’t take full credit for this transformation, they help guide the path.

The open environment of the Eco Hub can be difficult to navigate at first, and the stages of autonomy provide a structure for how to effectively learn in this environment.?

The path to autonomy works essentially the same way with the secondary learners in the Urban Hub but with deeper self-reflection and more intrinsic rewards, like the gratification of experiencing success or the pride that comes with seeing authentic change around habits.?

Case Studies and Further Reading on Learner Autonomy

There are very few case studies on autonomy available, but hopefully that will begin to shift.

One place to look for more guidance is Unleashing the Power of Learner Agency by Stewart Hase and Lisa Marie Blaschke , who have edited a free online book compiling stories and examples of learner agency in action written by educators from around the world.?

It includes a chapter by our own Innovation and Learning Director Devin Carberry , who shares practical tips on setting the stage for growing learner agency.?

Devin has just finished writing his first book, The Future Will Not Be Taught , about how to reimagine education and build a thriving learning community.

It’s filled with snapshots of Learnlife in action like the one shared above. In fact, he dedicates a whole chapter to autonomy and how we grow learner agency across both hubs right from day one.?

As part of our mission to inspire change worldwide, we work with schools to help embed autonomy into their curriculums.

The American School of Barcelona is one of the schools. In the video below, Dr. Johanna Cena shares why the school chose to work with Learnlife to help grow autonomous learners.

While most of the autonomy studies out there are related specifically to second language learning, there are quite a few interesting reads about autonomy in schools. Here are a few of our favourites from across the web:?

• What is Learner Autonomy and How to Use it Right
• What is Learner Autonomy and How to Promote It
• Developing Responsible and Autonomous Learners: A Key to Motivating Students
• Nurturing Learner Autonomy in the Classroom: A Guide to the Stages of Autonomy

Tips and Tools to Help Grow Learner Autonomy

As changemakers, we’re often so immersed in the work we do it can be hard to step back and evaluate our school objectively. But it’s important to know where we are in order to determine where we need to go.

So how do you know where you sit on the continuum of change towards creating self-determined, autonomous learning??

We’ve created a conceptual framework that you can use to locate your school on the continuum and hopefully create some clarity for you in the process.?

Once you know where you are, you can begin to shape what your next steps will be to shift towards self-determined, autonomous learning in your community.?

Want to use this tool with your team? You're free to download it and use it.

5 Steps to Getting Started

You know you want to create a shift, but where do you begin? Here are 5 small steps you can take to your classrooms and teams today.

1. Empower self-directed growth: Encourage learners to take ownership of their learning by setting their own goals, identifying learning opportunities, and devising action plans. Provide access to resources and support their exploration of topics relevant to their goals and interests.
2. Offer autonomy in approach: Allow learners the freedom to choose how they tackle tasks and projects, recognising that different approaches may yield innovative solutions. Provide flexibility in work methods and encourage experimentation to empower learners to find what works best for them.
3. Promote reflective practice: Foster a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging learners to regularly reflect on their work, identify areas for growth, and develop improvement strategies. Emphasise the importance of self-awareness and metacognition in driving personal growth and development.
4. Increase Responsibility: Assign responsibilities that empower students. When they feel trusted and valued, their motivation and engagement increases. Consider leadership roles or collaborative projects where students guide their peers, a practice which builds autonomy and confidence.
5. Facilitate collaborative learning: Create opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing within the classroom. Encourage learners to leverage each other's expertise, learn from diverse perspectives, and collaborate on solving complex challenges. Foster an environment where learners feel comfortable sharing ideas and seeking feedback from their peers.

Empowering Students: Free Webinar

If you've enjoyed this newsletter and want to explore how to unleash learner autonomy, we'd love for you to join our upcoming webinar on 29 May.

Facilitated by Mar Cano Mesa , the session will explore the Stages of Autonomy, dive into real-world case studies and provide lots of opportunities for Q&A.

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