Today I signed up for further education. It costs 500 francs and lasts one year. For that, I get – nothing.
At least not in the conventional sense.
I have attended many further education courses in my life. The most expensive: my basic school education. According to statistics, probably around 15,000 francs (I can’t quantify the university studies). In the middle: an EMBA for about 10,000 francs. On the cheaper end: Udemy – for a few dollars. As different as the prices are, one similarity stands out clearly: all these educations followed a plan.
With my money, I paid people who worked through this plan with me. Or at least told me all the learning content according to the plan (aka ‘imparted’). I consumed according to this plan, studied according to plan for an exam. And in the end, I was rewarded with a certificate. A certificate that then helped me to get (more) salary in our society. We learn because we want and need a salary. Thus, our learning is not only controlled and planned by others. No, we also do it to be accepted by others, to get a salary from others.
Learning for others instead of learning for ourselves?
(Small side thought: would an unconditional basic income help here?)
Haeme and I visited the Intrinsic Lab in Zurich on Monday. A co-learning space with people who are firmly convinced: Learning must come from within, be intrinsically motivated. A plan is good, but it must be your own plan. Not the plan of a curriculum planner, a schedule planner, a lesson planner (aka lecturer), an exam planner. MY plan is at the center!
The people at the Intrinsic Lab help me find, name, and pursue my plan. I develop the plan myself. And I develop my PLE, my Personal Learning Environment. And if it goes well (and that’s what I’m paying 500 francs for), I’ll meet other people at the Intrinsic Lab who also have a PLE. Together, we then form a Personal Learning Network (PLN) and in this, we learn. Each for themselves, all together. Easy, right?
I will document my learning. For myself. In Evernote, OneNote, or even in a notebook. I will share parts of my learning with others. On the blog, on LinkedIn, on the train, while eating, in conversations. I will rediscover my joy of learning. Hopefully forget my bad learning memories. I will learn to learn!
I’m looking forward to this experiment. And I will let you participate. And share a few thoughts from time to time. I am part of a paradigm shift here and I want to experience it firsthand and with my senses.
to be continued…
