Playbook for Self-Directed Learning

Dr. Tyler S. Thigpen is CEO of The Forest School: An Acton Academy, The Forest School Online, and Institute for Self Directed Learning in Fayetteville, Georgia, Academic Director at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and Guest Lecturer at Harvard University Graduate School of Education.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.

“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

• 1. The What and Why of Self-Directed Learning: An Introduction 2. Forming and Weaving Networks of Relationships 3. Focusing on the Whole Child 4. Promoting Student and Educator Choice 5. Facilitating Daily Student Goal Setting 6. Organizing for Student Self-Pacing 7. Empowering Students’ Rule Making 8. Nurturing Exploration 9. Embracing Productive Struggle 10. Facilitating Learner-Led Assessment 11. Designing a Learner-Led Environment 12. Leading School Transformation Appendix