Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning (Jun 2020)
Sing, O Muse: On the Link Between Creativity and Self-Directed Education
Abstract
This article explores the connection between self-directed education and creativity. Creativity is characterized as having the ability to produce ideas or creations that are innovative, original, and imaginative. Self-directed education refers to a type of education in which what, where, and how a student learns is chosen by the student, rather than strictly following a predetermined curriculum. There are currently three primary means of self-directed education: unschooling, democratic schools, and free schools. This article discusses five ways in which the concepts of creativity and self-directed education overlap. These connections are: the connection between life and learning, the crucial role of play and experimentation, increased personal autonomy, a strong sense of personal initiative, and an egalitarian social structure.