Resources
Learn more about self-determined learning with the following resources.
April 2022, School of Thought
The Curriculum Should Be Inverted
Videos
The Independent Project, Charles Tsai production, (2013) The Independent Project, Sam Levin, et al., (2011)
Given Internet Access, Can Kids Really Learn Anything by Themselves? (NPR News Hour, 2015)
Creating Autonomy-Supportive Learning Environments, (Jon Stolk, Olin College, 2015)
The Secret of Motivation, (Daniel Pink, 2009)
How to Escape Education's Death Valley, (Sir Ken Robinson, 2013)
Podcast Episodes
Experience Matters with Sam Levin (student architect of the Independent Project) (here) (33:51)
The Gift of Failure and Autonomy-Supportive Parenting, Jessica Lahey (here) (1:06:30)
Carrots, Sticks…and Other Ways to Motivate, Richard Ryan (Co-founder of SDT) and Cassie White (Personal Trainer) (here) (28:56)
Being Human: Why Do We Do What We Do (here) (36:28)
The Resonance Test 27: Jon Stolk of Olin College (SDT at the college level) (here) (29:56)
The Past Foundation podcast ep 187: The Student-Centered Revolution
AJ Crabill’s “A Journey into Student-Led Restorative Education with AJ Crabill(Part 1)
Bill Stixrud’s “This is Your Brain on Achievement Culture with Dr. William Stixrud”
Stuart Slavin’s “The Achievement Culture Cure with Dr. Stuart Slavin”
Greg Boyle’s “Exquisite Compassion”
Popular Media Articles
How to Set Up a Student-Directed Learning Program in High School, (Edutopia, Alyssa McKee, Lead Teacher, 2022)
How to Get Kids to Pay Attention, (NPR, Michaeleen Doucleff, 2018)
How to Keep Kids Motivated and Engaged at School, (US News and World Report, Gail Cornwall, 2022)
University of Chicago: Foundations for Young Adult Success: A Developmental Framework (2015)
School Environments Can be Toxic. Why and How They Must Change, (Abeles, 2021)
A Top Researcher Says It's Time to Rethink Our Entire Approach to Preschool, (NPR, 2022)
Young adults are struggling with their mental health. Is more childhood independence the answer? Mindshift/KQED. (Korbey, 2022)
Research Articles
Autonomy-Supportive Teaching: It’s Malleability, Benefits, and Potential to Improve Educational Practice, (Reeve & Cheon, 2021)
Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being, (Ryan & Deci, 2000)
Facilitating Student Outcomes by Supporting Autonomy: Implications for Practice and Policy, (Patall & Zambrano, 2019)
Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness in the Classroom: Applying Self-Determination Theory to Educational Practice, (Niemiec & Ryan, 2009)
Is Responsiveness to Student Voice Related to Academic Outcomes? Strengthening the Rationale for Student Voice in School Reform, (Kahn et al., 2022)
Free Play Predicts Self-regulation Years Later: Longitudinal Evidence From a Large Australian Sample of Toddlers and Preschoolers, (Colliver et al., 2022)
The Intrinsic-Motivation Course Design Method, (Herman et al., 2017)
Books
The Self-Driven Child – The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives, (Stixrud & Johnson, 2018)
A School of Our Own, (Levin and Engel, 2016)
Punished by Rewards, (Kohn, 2018)
Teaching Students to Become Self-Determined Learners, (Wehmeyer & Zhao, 2020)
The Power of Giving Away Power, (Barzun, 2021)
Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness, (Ryan & Deci, 2017)
Why We Do What We Do, (Deci & Flaste, 1995)
Learners without Borders, (Zhao, 2022)
Beyond Measure, (Abeles, 2015)
Drive, (Pink, 2009)