The new paradigm of education: self-directed learning

Last week, while celebrating 30 years since graduating high school with my colleagues from back then, I had a moment of eternity. You know, those fractions when all the things are connected together and the light breaks in. Not because I met my colleagues and some of my teachers and I could notice how each of us changed. But because I heard the words that make me tremble.

I had just returned from a retreat in Thasos (Greece), where at the end of September I’d spent three brilliant days with some of my students from ICA Balkans (International Coach Academy) — a coaching program that I brought in Romania at the beginning of 2013.

In this trip I combined the delicious Greek food, the beach and the diving breaks with intense working sessions developing the participant’s strategy as future coaches on a growing and competitive market. In the middle of these conversations, I had a revelation which later on showed up at the 30 years high school celebration. It happened when I heard a renowned and respected teacher asking us about the role of the school in our life.

This is my dilemma: how important is it today to continue to study and follow the same learning models established more than 200 years ago by the British? Remember that they were an empire and their aim was to dominate the world.

I could mirror myself within many of my high school colleagues and I can see that those who have the most success have been very open to the idea of being specialized and adapt to what we need now.

Aligned with this way of thinking, the principles that make the world go round today promote the freedom to choose your subjects, passions and even the clients you want to attract. Nothing is pre-determined, set or controlled. Welcome to the new kingdom of learning and personal development, where you can choose by yourself your objective, direction, rhythm and where you cannot determine your result in advance.

At ICA (International Coach Academy), for example, where I teach students around the globe, they can choose their preferred classes, their favorite teachers and even the exam’s subjects.

This is one of the things that really got me into thinking lately, especially while switching from training to coaching a few years ago. Can people learn by making their own choices? Even more: Are we ready for this in Eastern Countries, like Romania?

At first, I didn’t know what to start with. But now, after more than half a year since the first twelve students at ICA Balkans have joined the program, I have 12 answers. Positive answers. These people have just entered the advanced phase of the program, when they start to verify their competences. Some of them already prepare their papers for graduation and accreditation at the ICF (International Coach Federation). And while we are preparing a new edition of the school this fall, the news is that for the first time on the local market we are talking about a coaching program that lets students choose their niche.

And there’s one more thing that education needs: offering solutions for the actual needs. For example, the most wanted specializations in coaching are leadership coaching and relationship coaching. And most of all, we should teach students how services in these areas can be based on clear processes that offer measurable results for their clients. Something that few schools do.

I’m not a theoretician who displays his ideas without proving them so I invite you to post a comment below on these thoughts of mine. I will, in turn, answer to each of you.

And as the autumn arrived, I am waiting a new series of students at my second edition of te ICA Balkans program. Moreover, I also prepared a program for those who are advanced, which will allow them to access a higher accreditation. Stay close for there is more to come!