The term "open and independent learning" is not to be used loosely. It needs to be understood holistically and worked with very closely in any learning environment. Let us break down the words one by one and understand what it means when we say "open and independent learning".
Learning: Learning is the process of making oneself aware of the way of the world, whether it's the smallest circle of the world around us or the magnanimous universe. The intelligent way of learning is to understand oneself more deeply than merely gathering information about the external world. Every civilization in pursuit of knowledge has ultimately realized that learning about the self is the essence of life. It's a journey from the macro to the microcosmos, starting with understanding the outer physical world and eventually gaining wisdom for the inner journey. So, every learner begins with understanding the external world, then progresses to gain wisdom for the inner journey.
Independent Learning: Isn’t all learning dependent on the learner and the environment? Why, then, focus on independent learning? Does it even make sense? While learning as a process is indeed dependent on the learner and the environment, the objective of learning should be the independent pursuit of the learner. That's the context of independent learning here. An individual learner, in pursuit of knowledge, must explore options and choose to engage in learning. The 'why?' should be clear to the learner before embarking on the learning process. This choice sets the learner on a path that is entirely their own, hence the concept of independent learning. The learner has the freedom to choose their path, companions, and resources to support their learning journey. The learner is responsible and accountable for making the journey worthwhile, and the freedom of independent learning allows them to determine the pace and timing required for their journey.
Open and Independent Learning: The openness we are exploring here encompasses the mindset required of the learner, the openness of the system facilitating the learning process, and the openness of society towards learners. Is the learner open enough to choose their path? If the journey doesn't unfold as planned, is the learner open enough to learn and make necessary adjustments? Is the learner open to feedback and growth? Is this openness only about the learner or does it also involve the environment?
It is indeed about the openness of the system the learner is a part of. The system should be receptive to understanding and providing necessary support to the learner. The environment conducive to learning should be adaptable to the learner's needs for a perfect balance. This balance between the learner and the environment is crucial in open learning spaces. Additionally, societal support for learners who adopt open and independent approaches to learning is vital. Often, parents may resist open learning for their children due to societal pressures. It's essential that the society we live in is accepting of the choices we make for our individual learning needs. A supportive society enables learners to courageously transition from self-designed learning to self-designed living.
The concept of self-directed learning will be explored in another blog, coming soon.
Learning: Learning is the process of making oneself aware of the way of the world, whether it's the smallest circle of the world around us or the magnanimous universe. The intelligent way of learning is to understand oneself more deeply than merely gathering information about the external world. Every civilization in pursuit of knowledge has ultimately realized that learning about the self is the essence of life. It's a journey from the macro to the microcosmos, starting with understanding the outer physical world and eventually gaining wisdom for the inner journey. So, every learner begins with understanding the external world, then progresses to gain wisdom for the inner journey.
Independent Learning: Isn’t all learning dependent on the learner and the environment? Why, then, focus on independent learning? Does it even make sense? While learning as a process is indeed dependent on the learner and the environment, the objective of learning should be the independent pursuit of the learner. That's the context of independent learning here. An individual learner, in pursuit of knowledge, must explore options and choose to engage in learning. The 'why?' should be clear to the learner before embarking on the learning process. This choice sets the learner on a path that is entirely their own, hence the concept of independent learning. The learner has the freedom to choose their path, companions, and resources to support their learning journey. The learner is responsible and accountable for making the journey worthwhile, and the freedom of independent learning allows them to determine the pace and timing required for their journey.
Open and Independent Learning: The openness we are exploring here encompasses the mindset required of the learner, the openness of the system facilitating the learning process, and the openness of society towards learners. Is the learner open enough to choose their path? If the journey doesn't unfold as planned, is the learner open enough to learn and make necessary adjustments? Is the learner open to feedback and growth? Is this openness only about the learner or does it also involve the environment?
It is indeed about the openness of the system the learner is a part of. The system should be receptive to understanding and providing necessary support to the learner. The environment conducive to learning should be adaptable to the learner's needs for a perfect balance. This balance between the learner and the environment is crucial in open learning spaces. Additionally, societal support for learners who adopt open and independent approaches to learning is vital. Often, parents may resist open learning for their children due to societal pressures. It's essential that the society we live in is accepting of the choices we make for our individual learning needs. A supportive society enables learners to courageously transition from self-designed learning to self-designed living.
The concept of self-directed learning will be explored in another blog, coming soon.
