BFTP: Encouraging autodidacts
Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 03:26AM 
I ran across this wonderful word in a reading not long ago. To tell the truth, I had to look up its meaning since I don't see the term often enough to have its definition firmly implanted in my weak brain.
Learning the definition made me think I about my left thumb.
Its nail is nearly grown out after whacking it with a hammer pretty good a couple months ago. I was trying to loosen a firmly stuck faucet cartridge that needed replacement in my bathtub. Using YouTube as my guide, I pretty much knew what I was doing with the plumbing. Well, except for the pounding my thumb bit.
YouTube has become my go-to teacher for a lot of stuff - hanging blinds, figuring out water filter cartridges in my fridge, eliminating garage door squeaks, and other small repair stuff. No class or classroom. No F2F human teacher. Project-based learning and competency-based assessment. All good.
Autodidactic learning is not just for the person too cheap to hire a repair person. I've needed to learn, of course, for my job over the years - computer programs, educational theories, new technologies, project management techniques, management skills, teaching strategies, etc. Few competencies came as a result of traditional classes.
The true autodidact is intrinsically motivated. Self-assessing. Needs driven. What I would consider qualities of the ideal employee (or entrepreneur).
Our students are entering a workforce in which one will be increasingly expected to be self-taught. I hope we are encouraging, not discouraging autodidacticism in our classrooms.
Reader Comments (3)
I appreciate these reposts - after thinking about this term, I wonder if some teachers are afraid of it...
"Students can learn something without me?"
I have begun telling students that they might actually learn something outside of my classes by reading, listening to podcasts, watching videos, or physically doing things.
Who-da thunk?
Hi Kenn,
I think (most) teachers understand the increasing need to address the relevance of their curriculum. If students can find something online that is interesting, helpful, or just entertaining with their phone or computer, what motivation do they have to pay attention to the teacher. Relevance is the only reason for autodidactism as far as I can see.
Thanks,
Doug
Saw this a few years back and as a teacher I feel like it definitely sums up public education and higher education as well as I'm working on my second master's.
"Me: What are taxes and how do I pay them?
School System: worry not
School System: Mitochondria is the power house of the cell."