The Power of Self-Paced Learning: A Roadmap to Agency

By Samantha Jansky and Janita Lavani

What images come to mind when you hear “self-paced learning?” Be honest with yourself. What feelings come up when you imagine your child in a self-paced learning environment? What about yourself as a child?

One key component to a Learner-Driven space is that each individual has the opportunity to work at their own pace. Not exclusive to Ascent, self-paced learning has emerged as a beacon of flexibility and autonomy. At Ascent, the self-paced nature of our learning design allows individuals to chart their educational journey.

There is a common misconception when it comes to self-paced learning that it somehow equates to a laissez-faire attitude towards work. For some, hearing “self-paced” can conjure up images of young people floundering, not working, and choosing to waste time, rather than working. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. 

There are key ingredients to a healthy self-paced learning process that, when put together, create a runway for life-long learners to set out and change the world with agency, awareness and fulfillment. These include; autonomy, flexibility, practical tools, trust, accountability, and collaboration. 

In our next few blog posts, we’ll explore the true dynamic nature of self-paced learning in our learner-driven environment and the structure in place to allow it to be harnessed as a powerful tool for deep, meaningful, limitless learning!