Self-directed learning is the freedom to choose what to learn, when, and how long. Most self-directed learning comes from one's interests and expands as they learn along the way. Self-direction can include reading, watching videos, practicing skills, thinking, taking classes and workshops, talking with others, etc. It is driven by the innate desire to keep learning and growing instead of forced learning through curriculum expectations. Self-direction is about nurturing personal curiosity and learning to dig for answers to your questions. It is a path to take when one feels they would like more choice in what they learn.

Follow a spark and see where it leads or see what a peer is doing and try it too. There is so much richness in learning that comes from a genuine spark. Sometimes the interest lasts a few hours or days, and other times, it can even be weeks… months. The one necessity for following an interest is time. Time to learn, but also time to think, watch youtube videos, chat with friends, and explore. Mainstream school doesn’t usually provide time to explore the way an open-ended day can unfold. Ask your child what they’re interested in, and that wide range of interests is what we want to preserve.

They’ll learn what they need, when they need to. It’s that easy. Just like when adults need to learn something for an aspect of their life, youth do this too. Have you learned accounting and taxes since being an adult? Or how to fix a leak or heal your dying garden? You didn’t need more math classes to help with your taxes nor did you need chemistry class to balance the pH level in your garden. We find the info, we learn, we apply, adjust, and just keep trying.

Once we leave school we are all naturally self-directing. This is just embracing that sooner, and without the burn-out that can come from compulsory education.

If teens desire, part of their self-direction may be enrolling in classes for credits, or enrolling in online learning. They can work towards their GED and take the test once they’re 18. The point is self-direction and taking charge of their education. If they see value in obtaining credits for future goals, then they will seek that out and join courses that will take them forward. The Independent Learning Centre offers Ontario high school courses for $40 where one can take courses independently and obtain credits towards their OSSD. We support this kind of learning if it is what the teen desires and they're Working From Choice.

There is story after story of unschoolers who have never taken a math course in their life, and then at 15 decide they need math skills, and learn the whole k-12 curriculum in months. It’s not an anomaly. What it shows is that when the mind decides to, it can do more, and with ease. When they see they may need math for the next step in their interest, there will be no stopping them. Online classes, or tutors or even peers can help get them back up to speed when they’re ready.

De-schooling is a concept that we will need to get familiar with - letting go of the pressure and outside expectations that we need to be more, do more, live more. Learning is natural and never happens in a straight line. Self-directed learning is accepting that there are many facets to learning, not just facts or the ability to pass a test on a subject. Many parents and schools love the idea of smaller class sizes because this allows for indiviudualized focus and support. At Passages, this is exactly what we’re providing; focused questions, brainstorming, exploring ideas and testing/evaluating findings. When someone is working at their own pace, and learning skills they need for their projects and their passions, one is never behind. They may not know exactly what is being taught that year in social studies class, but their learning is in context to their life. The bigger question is will they be exposed to these school topics without sitting in a classroom? More times than not, the answer is: YES! Young people who are living in the world, having conversations, watching tv shows, reading magazines or newspapers, listening to podcasts all provide snippets of information that build our background knowledge about the world and general information we all eventually gain.

Joining an alternative way of schooling and approaching learning means you will hear this a lot. At first, it may invoke feelings of “Yea, I turned out ok!” or “My kid won’t have grit!”, but after the 20th time hearing this comment you start to see this attitude of “I got beat down and pressured and had to do all the hard stuff, so they should too!” isn’t all that great. It deprives children and teens of curiosity and quickly gets them used to being told what to do, shrinking to authority, trying to finesse the system to get out of work, or simply ignoring what anyone wants of them and apathy sets in. Is that “life”?

Not at all. The same way all kids in early years are inquisitive and thoughtful our tweens and teens are too. Remember them as young pre-schoolers during the summer months? What did they do all day? Play, explore, try new things, experiment. These are all things we need to continue to do throughout our lives. More times than not we lose our sense of playfulness and inquisitiveness. New companies and workshops are sprouting up everywhere to help adults reconnect with what they enjoy, and what lights them up. How did we lose that to begin with? Self-directed learning is a choice to continue living a life with curiosity and trust in yourself to find the answers and knowledge you need. Growth Mindset shapes who we are and keeps us growing and learning for the rest of our lives.

A phone is just another tool. We don’t pass judgment on how much one is on their phone or device and we also don’t monitor their phones or put restrictions on it. It may look like someone is just checked out, but then when they show you the video they’ve been editing for 3 hours it’s time for a slice of that humble pie! Or they’re “just texting friends”, but when you look deeper, they’re counseling and helping a friend in need — or maybe they’re that friend. Staying open to the larger story of devices is critical for learning. When we pass judgment or deem one way of learning better than others, then no longer do we see the true value in what is being learned.

I will very respectfully and lovingly ask you, "Is that a bad thing?” And if you answer, "Yes", I’d like you to consider why it’s a bad thing and is it true? Are they playing alllll day? Or are you just keyed into them when they’re playing because you don’t like it?

Alternatively, have you put artificial limits on gaming, which has created a scarcity mindset, making the video games even more intense in their minds, knowing it will be taken away at any point–even in the middle of an important part.

Now, I’d like you to ask them what they get from it. Why do they like gaming so much? Watch their eyes light up, telling you. Watch their body and animated expressions, acting out what this means to them. Their brains are not passively consuming when they’re playing video games. They are actively engaged; planning, executing, collaborating, strategizing, evaluating various tools and uses. Tell me this is not the language used on resumes for many future jobs! Also, there is a whole industry that may be what your child plans to pursue - video game creation, storyboarding, coding, digital animation, and more.

Honestly, the more curious we can be about their interests, the more peaceful the whole family will be. And, maybe, you’ll find your attitude about seeing them play will shift into one of appreciation instead of judgment.

At Passages, we have youth from ages 11-18 interacting with one another in a common shared space. The only time in our lives that we are separated into age groups is during our schooling years and yet there is so much to learn from each other at all ages. More than likely, the younger learners will congregate together, and the older ones will migrate to their age groups. But the opportunity to be a role model to the younger youth and the younger teens looking up to the older teens and interacting is invaluable.

As well we believe everyone has an equal voice regardless of age, therefore at the end of the day, it will not matter. There may be exposure to more mature themes at times - that is happening at mainstream schools all the time it just isn’t talked about because of the perceived separation by grades.

We believe the space to have downtime is extremely important; time to sit and think. We call that “white space” - it’s the space between the sentences in a book. Those spaces have a purpose and without them, the sentences would be piled on top of one another. White space, in the mind, is just as important. It allows new concepts to gel, come together, weigh options, parse language, mentally play with new ideas. It’s surprising how productive young people are once they’ve decompressed and adjusted to self-directed education. No one likes being bored - this is a motivator for them to dive deep into what they enjoy.

At Passages, we believe that choosing self-directed learning is a family decision. There’s no sense in your child choosing this path but then arriving home to feel pressure and judged by their family. We work with families to embrace this style of learning and parenting. This is considered collaborative parenting and it can be deeply connecting. Self-directed learning is a lifestyle choice that needs nurturing and support and we hope our resource page is full of information to help you think differently and join this new world of living. We also offer quarterly evening group sessions with a life coach to help work through fears and analyze ourselves and intentions. At Passages, we won’t leave you hanging. We’re a community with one goal - to nurture and care for our youth so they can rise to who they want to be.

Universities and Colleges all across the country recognize there are many paths to arriving at their door. Many already have a homeschool stream set up so that homeschoolers can present their work personally through a meeting or interview at the school where a portfolio can be presented and discussed in detail. University and Colleges are businesses who want keen learners and students who are passionate to attend; self-directed learners tend to know what they want and will work hard to achieve that since the motivation is intrinsic. While many post-secondary institutions have prerequisites for admission, at times these can be reviewed upon application. Joining an alternative way of schooling means being creative and looking for alternative ways to join post-secondary. This resource How To Get Into University is a fantastic outline of various paths.

Other options are:

• to obtain your GED for college entrance,

• wait until you're at the university/college age of Mature Student (typically 20),

• attend a year at an online university such as Athabasca University then apply under the “University Transfer Student” stream,

• take ILC courses independently to obtain your high school diploma or the six Grade 12 credits some universities require.

There are many pathways to post-secondary - it just takes a little digging and elbow grease.