Learn Anything On Your Own

What You’ll Do

Project: Create your independent learning plan .

What You’ll Learn

When I was twelve I dropped out of middle school to become an unschooler, the self-directed form of homeschooler. My parents weren’t teaching me and I wasn’t following a standardized curriculum.

Instead, I created a curriculum for myself. I found mentors, educational resources, and built the support systems to enable myself to learn anything.

Despite not going to middle or high school, I was still able to get into an elite liberal arts school, Hendrix, which I then left seven months later to found UnCollege.org.

In the last year, I’ve written a book about my experience with self-directed learning called Hacking Your Education. The book doesn’t come out until March 5th, but this class will give you a taste of how to going about learning anything.

At the end of this course you’ll feel confident learning anything. When your boss asks you to take on a project you have no idea how to do (i.e. build a media strategy with your biology degree) you’ll say “yes” and take on the challenge!

Throughout the course I’ll help you create your own independent learning plan, develop mentorship relationships, find educational resources, and set up system of peer accountability.

Beginner Level

About Your Teacher See Full Bio

Dale Stephens · Thiel Fellow and UnCollege Leader

I founded UnCollege, the social movement changing the notion that going to college is the only path to success. In just four months I've been featured in the New York Times, FastCompany, NPR, ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Huffington Post, New York Magazine, and more. I was recently lauded by Forbes as 'a successful teen knowledge worker.'

In May 2011 I was named one of twenty-four Thiel Fellows, chosen from more than 500 youth around the world. Sponsored by Peter Thiel, the Thiel Fellowship recognizes the top global changemakers under the age of twenty.

I speak about youth, education, and entrepreneurship to audiences worldwide. Speaking engagements include the Stanford, Business Innovation Factory, Digital Life Design, TEDxPlazaCibeles, St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, World Economic Forum in Davos, and The INK Conference (in association with TED).