Unleash Potential Where You Are
The Academy is an online learning community that enables teachers, administrators, and school leaders to deploy research-based practices for self-directed learning in their context. Join today to access a growing community of innovative educators, do-at-your-own-pace courses, and one-on-one consultations.
Courses For Teachers and Education Leaders
Our do-at-your-own-pace courses give you research-based materials, video-guided lessons, and comprehensive deliverables to deploy self directed learning models in your classroom or school.
Developed originally at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, this 27-session course empowers forward-thinking leaders to create a blueprint to guide the holistic deployment of self-directed learning. At the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills to design beyond the limits of traditional school design.
Radical transformation in education is possible, but only when strong local conditions are in place. In this 16-session course, developed originally at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, participants will identify the nature of those local conditions—and make plans to nurture their growth. These are the most important lessons a leader or leadership team can learn.Â
Quests
Quests are real-world projects to master 21st-century skills. Usually lasting four- to six-weeks, each Quest includes a series of challenges bound by a compelling narrative and is designed to deliver 21st century skills while simultaneously incorporating traditional topics like science, social studies, and history. More Quests will be available soon.
The Making of Politician Quest contains 11 Learner-facing challenges documents, launches and a challenge prompt, each designed to take approximately 1.5 hours over the course of 4 weeks. Learners ages 5-18 will explore leadership skills, communication, cross cultural awareness and publishing service. Instructions for an assessment in the form of a mock presidential debate are provided within the Quest materials.
The Forest School Blueprint
Blueprints are the design framework The Institute For Self Directed Learning uses to construct a learning model. The Forest School at Trilith is a 21st century micro-school—grades K-12—with learner-driven technology, Socratic discussions, hands-on projects, and real-world apprenticeships in an intentionally diverse and character-forging community. Their blueprint is available for purchase for $1,500. Inside you will find 61-pages of content, with links to even more valuable resources, giving you a detailed framework for replicating the self-directed model at The Forest School.Â
If you need financial assistance, we have a scholarship program for reduced pricing.
Be First To Know
2023 Book Release
In late 2023, The Institute For Self Directed Learning will release an extensive new resource. Acting as a practical guide to self-directed learning, readers will be immersed in actionable, research-based methods for deploying self-directed learning methods. Say up-to-date with academy news to be the first to know when the book releases.
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Other Services
Partnering with select schools ready for transformative change.
Light Touch Advisory
90-minute sessions to understand your context in a forum where our team can provide in-the-moment expert consulting.
Deep Dive Consulting
We partner with a limited number of schools each year to provide extensive consulting toward implementing self-directed models in their institutions.
In-person Workshops
Allow us to facilitate in-person workshops at your institution. Limited dates are available each academic year.
