Autodidacticism facts for kids

Autodidacticism (say: aw-toh-dy-DAK-tuh-siz-uhm), also called self-education or self-learning, is when you learn something all by yourself. It means gaining knowledge or skills without a teacher, school, or formal lessons.

What is Self-Learning?

People who are autodidacts are "self-taught." They learn about a topic by studying it on their own. This way of learning can happen instead of, or along with, regular school. Even in school, you might need to do some self-study to understand things better.

You can learn almost anything by yourself! You might find different ways to learn and become good at something. Self-study can even help you meet requirements for hands-on learning or apprenticeships.

To learn on your own, you can read educational books. You can also watch helpful videos or listen to audio recordings. Sometimes, visiting special information centers can help too. You can turn any place into your own learning space. There, you use smart thinking to improve how you study. You keep learning until you feel comfortable with the subject.

Where Does the Word Come From?

The word "autodidacticism" comes from ancient Greek. It combines autós, meaning "self," and didaktikos, meaning "teaching." Another related word, didacticism, describes an art style that aims to teach a lesson.

Different Ways to Describe Self-Learning

Many terms describe learning by yourself. One is heutagogy, created in 2000. Others include self-directed learning and self-determined learning. In heutagogy, the learner is the most important part of their own learning. A truly self-determined learner tries different ways to gain knowledge. They experiment and follow their own curiosity.

Andragogy focuses on adults wanting to learn on their own. Heutagogy is about learning from new experiences and managing your own learning. Ubuntugogy is a type of learning that focuses on community awareness. It is inspired by African ideas of togetherness.

Self-Learning in Modern Times

Self-learning often works with modern school education. Schools might encourage students to do more independent work. The Industrial Revolution also changed how people learned on their own.

Before the 1900s, very few people went to college. Most children did not even finish high school. High school was needed to become a teacher. Later, more high school graduates went to college. They often studied to become lawyers, doctors, or religious leaders.

Colleges mostly taught old subjects like Latin and philosophy until the 1800s. There were few places to study engineering or science before 1800. Groups like the Royal Society helped spread scientific knowledge. They even gave public talks.

Before the 1800s, many important inventors were self-taught. They often worked as mechanics. These people usually had basic schooling and learned a trade. James Watt, a famous inventor, was mostly self-educated. He became a member of important scientific groups. These groups often taught science that was useful for industry.

The number of years people spent in school in the United States grew a lot in the early 1900s. This happened as machines took over jobs previously done by children. For example, automated glass bottle machines meant boys were no longer needed for that work. This shift in many industries led more children to go to school.

Today, classrooms try to meet each student's needs and interests. This idea is called "inquiry-based learning." Students are given problems and find their own questions and knowledge. This "discovery learning" gives students more chances to interact with what they learn. This idea comes from self-learning.

Successful self-teaching needs self-discipline. It also requires thinking about what you've learned. Some studies suggest that students might need help learning how to manage their own studies. Others learn naturally without thinking about it. New knowledge works best when it connects to what you already know.

A philosopher named Ivan Illich criticized schools in the 1970s. He thought traditional schooling had problems. He suggested that self-learners could form groups. They could share resources and knowledge to help each other learn.

Modern societies have created new ways for people to learn by themselves. The internet has made this much easier. Websites like Wikipedia, YouTube, Udemy, and Khan Academy have become learning centers. Many people use them to learn freely. Groups like The Alliance for Self-Directed Education also help people with self-directed learning.

A 2016 survey found that many software developers (almost 70%) are self-taught. This shows how important self-learning has become.

History of Self-Learning

The idea of self-learning goes back a long time. An old philosophical story called Hayy ibn Yaqdhan is about a boy who teaches himself everything. He learns about nature and God just by exploring and thinking. This story was written in the 1160s. It shows that human reason, without society or religion, can lead to scientific knowledge. It can even lead to a deep understanding of God.

This story inspired many debates about self-learning. It influenced thinkers from Islamic philosophy to the European Enlightenment. The idea of self-learning was often part of bigger arguments. These included arguments about philosophy, astrology, and scientific experiments. It also showed up in struggles between individuals and powerful groups.

In the history of Black American self-education, many people had to teach themselves. This was because of unfair rules and discrimination in education. Their personal stories show how important literacy was during slavery and after the Civil War.

Self-Taught Architects

Tadao Ando is a famous self-taught architect of the twenty-first century.

Many famous architects learned their skills without formal training. These include Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Tadao Ando.

Today, it's rare for countries to allow self-taught people to become architects. The job title "architect" is usually protected. This means you need a special license or degree.

Self-taught architects often studied other fields first. For example, Jean Prouvé was an engineer. Le Corbusier studied decorative arts. Tadao Ando started as a draftsman, drawing plans for buildings.

When countries started making rules for architects, there were questions about existing self-taught architects. Most laws included a "grandfather clause." This allowed experienced self-taught architects to keep working. For example, in the UK, self-trained architects with two years of experience could register.

However, some countries did not have this clause. Many skilled self-taught architects lost their right to practice. In Ireland, a group called "Architects' Alliance of Ireland" helps these architects.

Architecture is always changing with new technologies and rules. So, all architects must keep learning on their own. They need to stay updated with new standards and methods.

Self-taught architects like Eileen Gray and Luis Barragán showed that working can also be learning. For them, self-education was linked to being creative and productive.

William Francis Gibbs learned about naval architecture by studying battleships and ocean liners. He would examine and change ship designs. Later, he started his own successful firm.

What Helps People Learn on Their Own?

Being "open to experience" is a big factor in self-directed learning. This means being curious and willing to try new things. However, personality only explains a small part of why someone learns well on their own.

The Future of Self-Learning

Self-directed learning is still being studied. It is an important goal in education, along with learning facts and working with others. Colleges and schools now offer online courses. Technology gives many ways for people to learn by themselves.

These online programs work best when the teacher helps create a good online space. This allows different experiences to come together. Self-directed learning can involve choosing what to learn. It also includes managing your own study and discussing ideas with others. Also, huge online courses (MOOCs) make self-learning even easier and more common.

Famous Self-Learners

Some of the most inspiring self-learners are those who faced challenges for seeking knowledge. This includes enslaved people and former enslaved people.

Many famous self-taught individuals come from different fields:

• Artists and authors
• Actors, musicians, and other artists
• Architects
• Engineers and inventors
• Scientists, historians, and educators

Where Can You Find Learning Materials?

Most governments have required schooling. Sometimes, this schooling can be unfair due to discrimination. Teachers might also accidentally pass on certain ideas from their community or government.

See Also

In Spanish: Autoaprendizaje para niños