Self-directed learning is a little powerful engine that God has put into us to enable us to accomplish the plan we were created to walk in. It is the ability to learn in such a manner that it will constantly bring a flow of increase into all areas of our lives.

Although this way of learning is very natural to us, it is rarely achieved to its full potential. Traditional education does not always spark the motivation a person needs to engage in a healthy learning process. More than often, it actually stifles it!

Maybe your education has given you a lot of diplomas, but you’re still feeling stuck and unfulfilled. Deep down inside you know there is more to education than what you have been told.

Would you like to develop your unique talents and gifts according to your very own learning style, time schedule, and budget? Would you like your passion to become your career?

You can start by understanding what self-directed learning looks like:

1.- A Lifestyle of Learning:

Self-directed learning never stops. It doesn’t start at 8:00 am, stop at lunch break and then pick up at 2:00 pm again. It doesn’t take vacations, and it won’t have to fight the temptation of watching TV.

Self-directed learning is an ongoing and lifelong process. As a matter of fact it is a lifestyle. A self-directed learner has so much fun pursuing his interests with passion, that he will be totally absorbed by his activity.

2.- Not Just Memorization of Facts:

This is where one of the main roots of wrong education lies in. You see, God created us to learn with passion. Real learning is like igniting a fire: it will start with a little spark and grow into unthinkable proportions…by itself!

All it needs is good fuel: lots of fun learning material that is abundantly supplied by God Himself in a very natural way through the things that surround us daily.

3.- Self-Directed Learning Builds up on Real Life Experiences

Self-directed learners are always connecting any new information with previous experiences.That is why it is important to learn in a context of real life situations. These will be like “pegs” in our mind where we can “hang up” any further knowledge we acquire.

An education that keeps you locked up in a classroom all day, with only a limited amount of practical experience, will not enable you to relate the acquired knowledge to real life situations. The result will be an inferior and superficial education.

4.- A Self-Directed Learner Takes Responsibility and Manages His Learning by Himself

A self-directed learner will never expect a teacher to do his learning for him. He is aware that learning requires intention and effort, and that it won’t fall into his lap by sitting in front of the TV and having someone else prepare the lessons. He will not waste his time with worthless activities.

Remember: a fire is burning inside…and nobody can stop him now.

5.- Self-Directed Learners Understand Their Preferred Learning Styles

It is virtually impossible even for a very good teacher to respect the different learning styles of his students in a classroom context. That is why traditional schooling can be compared to a cookie-cutter: the students are all supposed to be equally shaped at the end of the process.

Anyone who will not stand in the row will have trouble. This is particularly true for auditory or kinesthetic learners.

Once a student is allowed to learn according to the unique style inherent to him, his learning process will flourish and become very productive.

6.- Self-Directed Learners Take Time Out to Reflect Upon and Monitor Their Learning

This is a biggie. We adults like to run in our hurry-hurry world. There is so much to do, and we are always so busy. Could we possibly afford to take time off regularly, not only 15 days a year, to assess where we are at and where we are going?

It’s called reflection, and it is of vital importance to our education. People who don’t learn to slow down, and meditate on what they are learning, will inevitably fall into the habit of always being busy and tired, but never fulfilled.

7.- Self-Directed Learners Are Confident, Independent, And Prepared to Take Risks

This is just a natural consequence of a healthy self-directed learning process. Any person who has pursued with passion what God has put into his heart will gain a level of expertise that will catapult his self-confidence sky-high.

Self-directed learners are not afraid to ask questions and seek help when they need it. Once they are on their way with a vision in their mind and a purpose in their heart, there is really nothing that can stop them from achieving their goals and making their dreams come true.

Does this sound too good to be true? Are you doubting if you could ever learn this way? You probably won’t on your own…but you always will with God. You see, if you determine to walk this out, and want to follow Gods plan with all your heart, it will not be impossible…it will be inevitable.

I would like to invite you to go for it! Learn how to teach yourself in my FREE e-book: The Power of Self-Directed Learning, and my FREE e-course: Seven Steps to Consistently Change Your Life. You can download them by going to http://www.Self-DirectedLearningForSuccess.com

From Bettina Langerfeldt, who teaches people how to pursue their God-given gifts and talents by designing their own education with self-directed learning.

2008 Freedompioneer