The Evidence Behind Self-Directed Education
written by Arthur Grant
Children have a remarkable natural capacity and desire for learning, delighting in exploring their surroundings and pursuing the answers to their questions. In fact, when we give them the tools to do so safely, they're learning important skills during their self-led explorations.
It's this very spirit of intellectual curiosity that makes self-directed education an ideal path for some families. Children whose education is self-directed, sometimes called "unschooled" kids, don't engage in a traditional course of study -- instead, they find learning through engaging with their natural surroundings and having tangible life experiences. That doesn't mean book learning never happens, only that it's not prescribed or graded, so it's more likely to be meaningful and fulfilling for kids.
In recent years, self-directed education has seen an increase in popularity. It's an educational style that's adept at embracing kids' unique learning styles and personal passions, something which traditional classroom education often overlooks in favor of catering to the needs of larger classes. Since it's fairly new within a modern context, the number of studies tackling self-directed education is high; proponents of the practice, however, are pleased to report that existing studies point to self-led learning as a foundation of success.
There's a lot to like about the evidence for self-directed education, and parents who are on the fence may find that reading up on science-based studies offers reassuring answers to some of their most pertinent questions. It's likely to have a positive impact on their participation in higher education, rather than hampering it as some naysayers fear. It's also been shown to lead to more confident, creatively engaged, and focused kids, and that's only scratching the surface. Kids who participate in unschooling may also be better at coping with feelings of stress and anxiety, and they may even have an easier time overcome phobias and fears.
The list of beneficial outcomes goes on, and Muddy Smiles has assembled a list of 15 studies which illuminate the positives of self-directed education as indicated by science. Take a look:
