Biblical Basis for Self-Directed Learning

My main goal for my children, right from the very start of homeschool, was that they become independent life-time learners. To encourage this, I would give them lots of choice. For example, when we did unit studies together, each child would also do a project of their choosing. At the end of the unit, the children would give a presentation. Each child would present their own in-depth work they had done on their projects. As they got older, they were given more and more freedom with self-directed learning. And I believe there is a Biblical basis for the self-directed learning that we chose.

The Bible, in my humble opinion, is not a one thing fits all sort of book. Rather, it is a book which takes into consideration the immense creativity of God.

God Knits Each One of Us Together According to a Unique Pattern

It has taken me a long time to recognise that whilst we live in a society that values extroversion over introversion, God values both and everything in-between. And whilst we also live in a society which prizes wealth, academic achievement and a particular type of beauty, God is not so fussy. He values a so called ‘super-model’ as much as he does softly rounded Brenda down the road. In the same way, He loves those with a doctorate degree with the same love that He offers to a person who, for whatever reason, can’t or doesn’t want to achieve that level of education. And the poor man, well in God’s eyes, can be richer than the even wealthiest man on earth.

God, and therefore His Word, takes everything our tiny minds process and turns it on its head. So how does this apply to learning and education?

Read this! This post is going to explain my thoughts on the Biblical Basis of self-directed learning. If you’d like to read more about my own personal take on education as a whole, then please do click on link

Biblical Basis for Self-Directed Learning: Proverbs 22 v 6

As a Christian, I am going to answer this from a Biblical perspective.  However, I believe it applies to any child.

Proverbs 22 v 6 says ‘Train up a child in the way that he should go; when he is old he will not depart from it’.  I have heard and read many teachings on this passage.  

Most imply a promise from God. 

That we should train our children up in the ways of God…

Or that we should not allow a child to go their own way…

And by instilling the Word of God in the child, God promises his continued obedience in adulthood.

But, Is It Really That Simple?

I think it might be a bit more nuanced than that.  Let me use the amplified version, which better demonstrates my own thoughts.

‘Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ (Amplified Bible)

The word used for way is ‘derek’ which means ‘course for life, journey, or road.’  At first glance, this fits in neatly with the above suppositions…that God is talking about training the child in God’s ways so that he will not depart from his faith.  

I’m going to push this a little further. My mother-in-law used to say that it meant to train them up according to their bent.  By this, I think she meant according to the skills, talents, strengths and motivations that God has gifted to each of us. Or, according to the course God has for our life. I’m not about to dig deep into predestination, but I have always believed that God steers our lives. It has long been my experience that even the darkest of times bring about growth in spectacular ways. We may veer off course, but God uses those experiences for our good before nudging us towards His course for our life.

If it is meant for you, it won’t pass you by.

For our family, there has been no better way than self-directed learning to enable our children, over many years, to discover their individual ‘bent’. And with this, the excitement of travelling the path less travelled and more unexpected.

Self-directed learning requires both the input of the parents and, oxymoronically, for the parents to back off.  This is quite a tricky balance, and it is essential for the parents to have a lot of trust in the child (and the process).  It is also helpful to understand that failure as a result of learning is just as powerful, and often more so, than success.

If you want the child to have the confidence to direct their own learning, then you must also be fearless in allowing them to do so.  Self-directed learning is messy.  I don’t mean it creates a lot of mess (although, in our house mess is a given!).  What I actually mean is that it tends to be non-linear and may seem, at times, chaotic…

…and it is completely incomparable to traditional schooling.

It is worth noting here that traditional schooling may feel more comfortable.  After all, your child comes out with the same exams as every other student, which whilst varying in grade, do not vary in name.

Self-directed learning may take the form of traditional exams.  This has certainly been the case for two of my children.  Peculiarly enough, the child at one of the top art universities in the world, decided very early on that she wanted no part in any type of qualification which required an exam.  As a result, Lillie has an eclectic collection of qualifications and experience.

These qualifications seem unrelated until you realise that she wants to be an art therapist working with traumatised children.  Suddenly all her experience with children and young adults, her first aid qualifications, her youth work diploma, her British sign language qualifications along with all her many art qualifications start to make sense.  

Much of this experience and a lot of the courses she took before she knew what she wanted to do.  We just encouraged her to follow her passions, one year at a time.  Trusting the process…her CV appears perfectly curated for a future in art therapy.  This is her ‘bent’, God’s giftings to her in the form of natural talents and interests

I have a similar story to tell with Thomas and Charlotte, and I am certain I will have two more coming with Abs and Becs.

Trust the process