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perhaps self-teaching is an easier definition for independent, self-directed learning
All of the fancy descriptions aside, autodidactism is studying and learning according to your own lesson plan.
You may have just learned to read, or you may posses many degrees from approved colleges, if you decide to study a new area on your own you are an automath.
You might even informally join with others to share and debate what you are studying and still be an autodidact.
You can become self directed and therefore self educated - give yourself permission to once again enjoy learning.
Contents at a Glance
- Let each book you read lead you to the next book you would like to explore.
- automaths surround us
- start at any age, any time, any where
Let each book you read lead you to the next book you would like to explore.
Direct your own learning according to your own plan
"In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists." - Eric Hoffer
Choice is central - you can specialize just as you would in a formal school, or you can become a generalist tying together all the specialists' myopic visions into an overall theme.
Your love of automobiles may lead you to study their construction. Their construction may lead you to engineering, metallurgy, sculpture, and environmental issues. These may lead you to other disciplines. A jack of all trades is developed, and perhaps a master of one.
"All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education." - Sir Walter Scott
Human Accomplishment: The Pursuit of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences, 800 B.C. to 1950
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Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment
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The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
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Og Mandino's University of Success
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Self University: The Price of Tuition Is the Desire to Learn : Your Degree Is a Better Life
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automaths surround us
Even a high school coach assigned to teach psychology might use autodidactic methods to enhance his understanding.
All schools, including free universities, will have basic assumptions that are included with their education. These assumptions drift over time. Most expect you to embrace what they currently believe rather than promote your abilities to think and act for yourself. They monopolize your ears and don't teach you to open your eyes.
Autodidacticism allows you to form your own viewpoints.
The great economic philosopher, C.F. Bastiat, was unable to finish college. He studied instead at home, developing his ideas and sharpening them during his walks and discussions with a neighbor and friend who at first disagreed with him. In part that is why his arguments are so easy to understand, and so elegantly simple. If you have not heard of Bastiat it is because business schools have found it easier to ignore or arrogantly dismiss Bastiat, since they can't refute him.
You can still read and study Bastiat if you wish. You don't have to ask anyone's permission to learn whatever you wish.
There are many self-taught standouts like Bastiat in history. There are also many visionary leaders creating positive change today.
You can be another.
start at any age, any time, any where
When to start student directed learning?
Proving You're Qualified: Strategies for Competent People Without College Degrees
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Guerrilla Learning: How to Give Your Kids a Real Education With or Without School
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The Call to Brilliance: A True Story to Inspire Parents and Educators
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Leadership Is an Art
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Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling
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diplomas and degrees are losing value
As education becomes a "right," and as bureaucracies shrink with the ending of the industrial age, formal education loses value.
What is the case is a technologically empowered cohort exists that is larger than Generation-Y alone. Passionate knowledge workers united in flexible teams based on relationships and reputation form the Netcohort. Individualistic knowledge workers are no longer bound by age, location, or nationality.
Being part of the Netcohort requires knowledge, adaptability, integrity, and an eagerness to contribute. None of these attributes require a formal education.
If the option to collaborate with a college dropout like Bill Gates (he has four honorary degrees) or an MBA is offered to you, who would you choose?
Self education, persistence, integrity, and a reputation for results works just fine when the Netcohort applies itself.
Distance and national affiliations are becoming less important. To restate the question above, if you had a chance to have Richard Branson (supposedly a poor student, although he has also received an honorary degree) on your board, as opposed to a local business school professor, who would you choose?
Obviously success outside the classroom is most attractive when considering expanding your project team.
Register and monitor courses at no charge!
a free university that exists to re-ignite your love of learning
If the pleasure of reading was stolen from you during required schooling - take back that pleasure today. The more you read, the faster and easier it is to read. The faster and easier it is to read, the more enjoyable reading becomes.
Reading is the key. If you enjoy reading there is no knowledge that persistence can not unlock.
If you want to create a formal lesson plan, feel free to borrow one of ours.
The BFU Journal has been supplanted by a combination of BFuniv at twitter and educational Squidoo lenses - but the archives are still valuable.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byLet's Create New College Models - Perhaps A College Degree Substitute
Think of Wikipedia, Mozilla, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson. Trust, authenticity, and accomplishment is more powerful than mere certification.
Certification is no longer required in some areas for participation and success. Wikipedia, the Mozilla Foundation, and other cooperative social ventures seek willingness, knowledge, and skill from participants. There you can build a reputation.
Neither Gates nor Branson have college degrees, except honorary degrees received in acknowledgment of their accomplishments. Few would argue with their potential value to any organization.
A new college model does not even need Bastiat Free University or an equivalent; except in some instances as a form of middleman. Following is a rough outline of one innovative higher education model.
Another idea is formed within web 2.0 as peer to peer education. The cost of information is being driven toward zero by technology. There is no reason useful education needs to take many years and tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is a project that explores P2Pedu and is designed to help you develop skills and reputation for this new era.
"You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for a buck fifty in late charges at the public library." - Good Will Hunting
There are, and will be developed, other models that can replace dysfunctional common education. Review these two and support them, or develop your own learning model.
Don't settle for last century's education, today.
Don't stop learning when you finish required schooling
Instead, relax and enjoy learning like you did as a child.
From science to understanding the human condition, automaths have shaped our lives. It is possible for you to shape the future by creating your own self-directed learning regime, or by supporting those that are enjoying the benefits of being self taught.
Then act on the basis of your deeper understanding.
The real changes to our future will come from the Netcohort and their interactive and flexible teams. Part of what makes these life-long learners stand out is they are delightedly pursuing knowledge 24/7/365.
Just like when we were kids; it's natural learning, a pleasure in discovery. "Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual." - Arthur Koestler
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Reply
- BFuniv.com BFuniv.com Sep 29, 2009 @ 1:28 pm | in reply to Jack
- Jack, it's best to start by dabbling. How else will you discover where your natural interests reside? If at some point you want to concentrate, make it your choice, not something chosen on the advice of an authority.
Pursue it as long as it remains interesting. It is your life, if you want to be a generalist - go for it. This is a new era, it is the adaptable and openly prepared minds that will create our futures.
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Reply
- Jack Jack Sep 29, 2009 @ 11:13 am
- You forgot to mention 1 thing:
AVOID DILETTANTISM!
Or more accurately:
AVOID DABBLING!
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Reply
- BFuniv.com BFuniv.com Feb 27, 2009 @ 9:50 am | in reply to Gerard
- Gerard, thank you for your comment.
I view myself as for individual rights, and only resist government efforts at usurping them. Start your own university if you wish. Most governments are willing to support followers, with funds taken from others, and official approbations. You will find plenty of approved universities on which to pattern your efforts.
As I wrote in another context: If you are too shallow to consider well thought out ideas that disagree with your cultural indoctrination; go somewhere else. I'm sure there is an approved school, magazine, blog, or news program close to hand. They will soothingly tell you what to believe and confirm your social programing.
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Reply
- Gerard Gerard Feb 27, 2009 @ 5:27 am
- All this would be great if you didn't put such a rightwing slant to so much of your commentary. A "university" that is so blatantly anti-government is nothing I'm interested in.
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Reply
- stargazer00 stargazer00 May 25, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
- I love your choice of topic. 5 stars, favored, and I am sending my unschooling friends here.
Great so far - what else do you have for me?
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