The emails I get tend to be heavy with parents feeling oppressed by the weight of the school requirements that have been thrust onto them, "My teen won't go to school." "My 14-year-old is withdrawing and just a shell of who they were.” "I can barely get them to engage in anything anymore – the spark is gone." "Our relationship is suffering, and I don't want to sacrifice it." All these parents have been backed into a corner. For some, the compulsory nature of school erodes relationships at home. Parents are forced to impose the rules by the mainstream school system, or they "get in trouble." To ..read more

Sal Khan, founder of the online education platform Khan Academy, believes that AI has the potential to revolutionize education. He sees AI as a tool that can personalize learning and help students progress at their own pace. To get a full perspective of his position, watch his most recent TED talk below: How AI Could Save, Not Destroy, Education. Don’t have the time to watch the video? Read this short summary: One of the key benefits of AI in education, according to Khan, is the ability to provide real-time feedback to students. This feedback can help students identify areas where they need a ..read more

Education is essential to achieving success in life. However, traditional schooling is not the only way to learn. Self-directed learning offers a unique opportunity to tailor your education to your needs and interests, while allowing you to take control of your learning journey. Exiting school can be a daunting task, especially if you've spent a significant portion of your life in formal education. However, with the right plan in place, leaving school can be a smooth and successful transition. Here is a 6-step program to help you exit school and transition to a more self-directed approach to ..read more

The education system has always been a topic of controversy. One of the most significant issues is the little choice students have in what they learn. For the most part, students are told what to study, how to study it, and how much time to spend on it. This lack of control over our education raises the question ask by many, ‘why are you in charge of my education?’ Many students feel that the education system is outdated and does not prepare them for the real world. Instead, it focuses on memorization and regurgitation of information. This approach does not allow for creativity, individuality ..read more

In the book Notes for the Margin by Kathy Mezei, the author explores the idea that often we need to move to a space where we are not marginalized in order to thrive. What is striking about the idea of being marginalized is its universality. This is made clear in the first two paragraphs of the preface: “Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Have you had the experience of feeling like an outsider, standing on the periphery of a group to which you would like to belong, and feeling that you don’t, or can’t? Perhaps, on closer observation, you have decided that you don’t really want to. Hav ..read more

The Noncompliant podcast is known for its captivating interviews with influential and inspiring people. Last November, the podcast featured an interview with Kristina House, the founder and Executive Director of Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning. The podcast is an excellent introduction to the Centre giving an overview of the history and philosophy of the learning space. Click the play button to listen here or download the podcast from the Noncompliance Website. The transcript can also be found at Noncompliance ..read more

One of the things that has struck me about typical educational offerings is that it seems to be designed to fail. (There is an irony in that the goal for students is to pass.) Of course, that wasn’t the intent of schools and initially schools did provide a standard for the basics like reading, writing and arithmetic. The model used, however, was built around a factory-like setting because ultimately a significant number of people would work in a factory. Bells, scheduling, testing, and productivity trained students for future employment. Today, however, that mode of schooling seems woefully ou ..read more

I see this again and again. Learners show up in the space with a need, and they get to work fulfilling that need. They don't see anything extraordinary about it. They're used to "just" finding a way to get what they need. They're self-directed learners, after all, and when you live like this you don't see roadblocks because there's always a way to figure it out. A few examples... One Learner showed up on a cold Fall day and said their hands were freezing and needed something for when they make their trek home at the end of the day. They're a very capable crocheter and at the "old" age of 12 a ..read more

ChatGPT is getting a lot of attention recently, and for good reason. People have been in awe of self-driving cars, computers beating Master chess players, and factories run by robots, but now the technology is coming much closer to home with this type (excuse the pun) of artificial intelligence. Of course, when a person initially tries a new product they test it to see how good, or bad, it is. When confronted with ChatGPT (which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer…who knew?) the first thing I typed was ‘The benefits of self-directed learning’ and this was the result: Benefits of self ..read more

School absenteeism is a common issue that affects many students around the world. Whether it’s due to illness, family emergencies, or other personal reasons, students missing school can have a significant impact on their success and overall well-being. In recent years, research has shown that school absenteeism is often linked to mental health issues, highlighting the need for a more holistic approach to supporting students. School is such a critical and central part of modern day living. It is an institution to deliver curriculum to students while at the same time allowing parents time to wo ..read more