Foundations in

Independent
Learning Module 1
The Building Blocks of
Independent Learning

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting

of a fire.
-Yeats

Module 1 Outline

Motivation and Learning

Intrinsic Motivation

The Difference Between Schooling and Learning

What is Student Autonomy?

Oak Meadow Scale of Student Autonomy

Motivation and Learning

There is a prevailing belief in many schools
that human beings learn primarily and best
when the motivation for learning is extrinsic,
coming from outside the individual. For
example, gold stars, class privileges for high
achievers, rewards for completed work, and
grades are all extrinsic motivators.

Motivation and Learning, cont.

In simple terms, extrinsic motivation can be

understood as a basic response to stimuli. From
the moment we come into the world until the
day we leave it, we are responding to stimuli and
learning from those experiences. On a survival
level, a blizzard might be the external motivation
that causes us to seek shelter. On a societal
level, laws are external motivators that regulate
our behavior. Anytime we do something based
on an external reward or privilege rather than an
internal desire, we are extrinsically motivated.

In a broader context, the global economy

serves as the extrinsic motivation for
people to pursue careers to make money
to provide needs and wants.

In an educational context, grades often

serve as the extrinsic motivation for doing
well in class, bolstered by the prevailing
cultural belief that good grades are
essential for a students achievement in
later stages of life.

Your Turn
In many educational contexts, the central idea is the belief that we learn best
when there is something at stake, something desirable that is out of our reach
if we fail to learn.
Take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions:

How might extrinsic motivation affect what is learned and how it is

learned?
Would extrinsic motivation impact a students curiosity or creativity?
What influence might an external motivator have on a learners sense of
autonomy or independence?

Intrinsic Motivation
Recent research on learning reveals
something very different about how and why
humans learn and succeed in life. An
examination of the worlds highest achievers,
whether in business, the arts, or the sciences,
demonstrates that those who truly excel in
both life and work are intrinsically motivated
learners.

Intrinsic Motivation, cont.

It is often the case that those who do best in life, who find the most meaning and purpose and
who are the most civically engaged, are those who learn not because they have to, but because
they want to. They are not motivated to learn because they have some threat hanging over their
head, but because they are curious about the world and seek to better understand how it works.
This pursuit of knowledge is its own reward.

In fact, research also shows that human beings are

uniquely intrinsic learners with unending
curiosity and creativity, and that these elements
are the building blocks of high achievement.

Intrinsic Motivation, cont.

Independent learning is formed around the

idea that education is the most meaningful
for students when they are allowed to
cultivate and express their own unique
passions and curiosities. Independent
learning allows students the flexibility to
incorporate those interests into what they are
studying. This gives relevance and meaning to
the work, creating an internal drive to learn
and succeed.

Your Turn
Take a few minutes to think about intrinsic motivation. Consider the following
questions, and discuss or write down your ideas.

Human beings learn knowledge, skills, habits, values, and beliefs in a

number of different ways, but how do children learn to be curious?
How do children learn to learn?
What motivates a person to be a lifelong learner?

The Difference Between Schooling and Education

Schooling and education are not necessarily
synonymous. Just because a student attends
school does not automatically mean he or she will
become educated. Perhaps more importantly, a
person can become very well-educated without
ever attending school or having formal lessons.
Schooling is often about external pressures and
rewards, and education is about learning, which
has its own internal impetus and reward.

At Oak Meadow we believe that students are

sensitive and intelligent, learning can be
enjoyable, and education should be
integrated into life. Children are naturally
curious, and we work to foster that innate
wonder and drive for understanding and
discovery.

The Difference Between Schooling and Education, cont.

In order to help us better

understand what inspires
humans to learn, we need to
look more closely at intrinsic
motivation and extrinsic
motivation as well as selfdetermination theory, and to
examine some of the newest
research on the brain and
motivation.

Intrinsically motivated people are interested in mastery or in

doing the work for its own sake. They have a desire to gain
knowledge and skills.
Extrinsically motivated people are more focused on achieving
an outcome, often a reward of money or status (grades).
Not surprisingly, some studies suggest that reward systems can
reduce intrinsic motivation and negatively impact learning.
Once the reward is achieved, the desire to learn more disappears.
Intrinsically motivated people are often inspired to learn
more once they have achieved their goal.

The Difference Between Schooling and Education, cont.

Author Daniel Pink, whose bestselling work has focused on behavioral science, shares his ideas
about the most current motivation theory in a TED Talk.

Stop and watch "The Puzzle of Motivation"

Your Turn
In his TED Talk, Daniel Pink discusses autonomy, mastery, and purpose as they
relate to a business setting. How do you imagine this kind of self-direction
affecting school-age learners?

What is Student Autonomy?

The idea of student autonomy is central to the
field of Self-Determination Theory. Selfdetermination theorists place a high value on
a feeling of self-direction and believe that a
sense of being in charge of oneself is a
universal psychological human need. As a
result, the sense of autonomy is deeply
related to a sense of well-being. Basically, each
of us has a profound need to be true to our
sense of self and to speak our own truth.

What is Student Autonomy? cont.

Now check out a TED Talk by autonomous homeschooler Logan LaPlante, in

which he talks about his approach to life and learning.

Watch "Hackschooling Makes Me Happy"

What is student autonomy?, cont.

Student autonomy has grown in popularity in

the field of educational research. It suggests
that individuals are much more responsible,
intelligent, and even powerful when they feel
in charge of themselves and their learning. An
increased sense of autonomy is linked to
increased emotional engagement, and it is a
predictor of academic success.

Student autonomy has been shown to reduce

the likelihood of dropping out of high school
and to reduce motivation differences between
boys and girls.

Autonomous learners...

are individuals who think for themselveswho invent, design, experiment, compose, write,
build, dream, and chase down new ideas.
learn best by doing, rather than by being told what, when, and how to learn.
see education as something they are empowered to pursue, freely and joyfully.
have a driving passion in their lives.
see independent learning as a way to gain a comprehensive, meaningful education free from
the confines of the traditional school setting.

Your Turn
In order to integrate an approach and philosophy to education that embraces
student autonomy, we must value all kinds of learning and experience. As an
educator, what challenges you about this approach?

Oak Meadow Scale of Student Autonomy

In order to evaluate how well-equipped a student may be for Oak Meadows program of study, we
developed the Oak Meadow Scale of Student Autonomy, a self-reflective tool to help students
evaluate their sense of independence and the ability to take charge of their own learning. While it is
designed for students, it provides tips and strategies to help anyone become a more autonomous
learner, regardless of age.

Click on the Oak Meadow Scale of Student Autonomy

and take the quiz yourself!

Assignments for Module 1:

The Building Blocks of Independent Learning
Reading assignments

Learn more about student autonomy in this article by Alfie

Kohn: "Choices for Children: Why and How to Let Children
Decide"
Read Section I, The Nature of Childhood, in Lawrence
Williamss The Heart of Learning.
Take the Multiple Intelligences Evaluation in chapter 5 of
The Heart of Learning, answering the questions for yourself
(not for your child).

Module 1 Writing Assignments

1.

Youve explored some basics in motivation theory and independent learning.

Record any questions you have about these ideas. What questions arise about
how you might support independent learning with students in your particular
educational setting? (You will refer to these questions at the end of the course
so keep them handy!)

2.

Reflect on two learning experiences, one in which you were intrinsically

motivated and one when there were extrinsic rewards. What was the value of
each? What did you learn from these experiences? Reflecting on what you have
learned in Module 1, do you have any new insights about either experience?

3.

After taking the Multiple Intelligences Evaluation, consider your own learning
style.What types of learning activities work best for you? What type of learning
activities are least effective for you? How might this affect your teaching?