The Self-Directed Learning Playbook offers school leaders a student-centered, relationship-driven approach to fostering learner-led success and autonomy at school. In self-directed learning, learners set their own goals, manage their own progress, and assess their own outcomes, all under the guidance of teachers and administrators. This accessible book offers evidence-based insights, real-world examples, and practical techniques for leaders seeking to transform their schools and empower students to become responsible for their own learning within an interdependent network of relationships with educators, peers, and involved adults. Each chapter includes a variety of strategies for supporting the conditions in which students can enthusiastically develop self-regulation, time management, adaptability, problem-solving, and other important skills. Principals, superintendents, teacher-leaders, and curriculum/assessment designers will come away with bold yet intuitive methods for transforming schools into self-directed learning environments.

About the Author

Dr. Tyler S. Thigpen is Head of Schools of The Forest School: An Acton Academy in Fayetteville, Georgia, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Self-Directed Learning, and Instructor and Academic Director at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, USA.

Dr. Caleb Collier is Co-Founder of The Forest School: An Acton Academy in Fayetteville, Georgia, and Director and Head of Research at the Institute for Self-Directed Learning.

Amber Bryant is Assistant Head of School for Learning at The Forest School: An Acton Academy in Fayetteville, Georgia and Co-founder of The Forest School and Institute for Self-Directed Learning.

Brittney Toles is Co-Founder, High School Guide, and Assistant Head of School for Culture and Enrichment of The Forest School: An Acton Academy in Fayetteville, Georgia, and Co-Founder of the Institute for Self-Directed Learning.

Reviews

"What if young people could follow their passions, design their learning, and organize their schooling in ways that helped them flourish as humans and as citizens? In this book, experienced educators who are national leaders in the field of self-directed learning offer us a soup-to-nuts guide in how to make this dream a reality. Chockful of examples, suffused with wisdom, and forthright about challenges, this hopeful yet practical book shows us both why and how students can be put in charge of their own learning. A must read for anyone who wants to transform industrial model schools into places of purpose and passion for both students and adults."

-Jal Mehta, Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

"I am excited to endorse The Playbook for Self-Directed Learning by Dr. Tyler Thigpen, Dr. Caleb Collier, Amber Bryant, and Brittney Toles. This guide offers transformative strategies for fostering student agency and self-direction, essential for today's evolving educational landscape. By emphasizing the importance of supportive relationships, student choice, and purposeful struggle, this book equips educators with the tools to create environments where students can take charge of their learning and develop the skills needed for lifelong success. The detailed techniques and real-world examples make it an invaluable resource for anyone committed to transforming education and promoting student agency."

-Caroline Vander Ark, CEO, Getting Smart Collective

Book Information
ISBN 9781032789552
Author Tyler S. Thigpen
Format Hardback
Page Count 218
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g