Category: Planning OL FAQ

In open learning the curriculum is also open, rather the world is the curriculum. Since the child decides what he or she wants to learn, the child can decide to learn anything. Open learning considers all learning equal – whether it is embroidery or science or piano or football. It’s all about what the child…

Yes, the ideal schedule is the one the child co-creates with his or her family. Rather each member of the family plans, discusses with others and using reflective inputs from others continuously fine tunes their open learning journey. Obviously the plan / schedule / structure of any open learner is very dynamic as the needs…

The learning plan can start with asking the child “What do you want to do / explore / learn / go deep into or what interests you want to explore?”The learning plan can also include what the family decides is important for the child. The learning plan would invariably have some exposures from the world…

Typically children decide how they want to approach any task / learning. They do not need to do it all by themselves. They are free to choose any resource – could be books, websites, videos, peers, parents, a teacher or an expert or a workshop or course or just learn by doing something. All of…

Open Learning does not mean lack of structure. It means the child creates his or her own structure, own schedule and routine and own style. Each one of us is unique in how we approach the day, week, month, year and our life. Let the child’s instinct first and then experience later guide him or…

Open learning means that there is no one way of doing it – rather it is the child’s way of learning. If the child wants you to lead, you lead – simple!(However in most cases, we invite the child to lead and then give the child the time and space to grow the ability to…

Everything is worth doing and learning, so there’s no need to divide learning by subjects or as academics and extra-curricular.Also a lot of so-called academic learning (like language, science and maths etc) is already integrated in life, in doing stuff. For example, cooking involves reading, talking, mathematics and loads of science.However, some families want to…

No. Child will be at par with themself, with what and who he or she is :). Why compare?If you are keen on comparing, you will realize that the child would be better or know much more in one area while would not have knowledge or skills as compared to others in another area. This…

There are many sources of exposure for a child (and an adult) in open learning, specially given the vast and wide internet and media presence:> Child’s own interest in any field leads the child to find out more.> Interactions with parents, relatives, friends, neighbours and to all other people the child happens to meet. Thus…

Please realise that the world is actually full of both resources and people who can support the child. We need not always look at home, parents and teachers for resources and people. When we start looking and asking, a lot of people and places which were not normally considered to be part of the education…

Maybe we don’t need to. In open learning children simply learn what they need to learn. If one needs to understand how something works, the child can either experience it or can willingly refer to the theory behind it or as in most cases a combination of two. Learning by itself is a seamless journey…

First of all a child (or even adult) getting addicted to any wasteful activities is not a function of open learning. Many a times these so called wasteful activities are a way to get away from something that is not exciting or interesting to the child.In open learning what is important is the responsibility the…