I don't think we should be policing the way people want to learn. There's no right or wrong way to learn, everyone is different and has different capabilities and there shouldn't be standards set. This just creates a sense of superiority for people who are doing it your way, which defeats the point of this 'trend', and quite frankly comes across as very judgemental. I think it's great that adults are taking their own time to learn something new, no matter what format it looks like.
I think this is a good point, which I think also emphasizes the beauty of the whole "curriculum" trend. At least, from the minimal videos I've seen about it, a lot of people point out that you can do everything at your own pace, pick your own topics, take notes as you wish, etc.
Regarding Meaghan's point in this article, though, does bring up a good point in questioning how much you're really "learning" something. I am in no way an expert in learning models or how an individual truly feels they "learned" something, but I feel like putting it into a perspective of creation helped me, at least.
I totally agree with you, though. A lot of people should be careful in how they talk about making their own learning programs and not coming across in a "this is the best/only way to do this!" type of tone. I am curious what works best for someone if creation and output is not necessarily the end goal. Do they reenforce their learning with irl conversations? Or do they just simply feel like reading or consuming media is enough?
I know right! I’ve been noodling on that a lot lately with regards to what I write on Substack: how much hand-holding do I need to do, how many comforting disclaimers do I need, to have my work labeled as constructive criticism rather than judgmental and policing… and do I even want to do that work? Luckily there are many people on this platform interested in ideas and self-education that don’t seem to need that.
I have this belief that it is no way to please everyone. You will always have people who find offense where there may be correction or simply an opinion. And no matter how much you try to comfort and handhold, that person will never be happy. So write what you write. Explore what you explore. These people aren’t your readers. Those who are will find you.
That's ridiculous, I'm not offended. I simply gave my opinion the same way you are giving your opinion on my comment. I disagree with what the author said and I think it's more important to be supportive of people trying to learn than pointing out flaws. We're all free to give our opinions and move on with our days.
Do you feel the intention of the piece was to point out flaws? Or do you disagree with the idea that an output is the final step to learning? I don't think you can say the author is "policing" when she clearly stated that the Bloom Taxonomy is her personal blueprint for self study. She did what she was talking about and took a topic and broke it down for others to understand and then execute, if they wish. She never said there was anything wrong with intellectual tourism, only that it's different than intellectual exploration because of the final step of an output. I think you came off super accusational in your original comment when the piece itself wasn't a standard or rule, it was an output of a study, in it of itself, to show a few approaches to in depth self-study. Would love to hear your thoughts on the questions I asked in the beginning!
I love this idea. I’m good at the reading part, but have always been terrible at the creating part. Maybe it’s just a matter of forcing a question on myself, but this seems like a great solution to just being a spectator for your own intellectual journey.
I've read this article twice and I'm definitely without a doubt coming back to it again. Recently, I've fallen in love with the idea of consciously learning but I easily get overwhelmed because I struggle with finding a starting point. I love how your article not only emphasises why it's so important to create, but with all the examples you've given us so we can start. Love this idea so much!!
i spent today making my september curriculum and while doing my before-bed substack reading, this came on my feed! and I'm so glad it did! my main goal for my curriculum was creating, more specifically doing it more consistently, and so far i have a small lists of things i want to write/create. writing mini research essays is a hobby of mine that's been stuck in the attic for a while and reading this felt like getting a green light to write and look into more "non-conventional" topics, which I've always wanted to do but feel intimidated by! hopefully by the end of the month, i will have at least 3 essays that i can post ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ
A great read… which I agree and disagree with! For 5 years we’ve been hosting month-long collective explorations of themes. Imagine 100 people all being curious about Sound, Colour, Rewilding together at once. It spawns all kinds of creative explorations. It’s a curriculum for an eclectic creative life.
A part of our framework is encouraging and supporting people to release an idea inspired by their Quest at the end of the month (no matter how small!). 100s of beautifulprojects have come to life!
It’s an important part of the creative process for some - but not for others.
Some of the most profound changes I’ve seen in people come from simply being totally immersed in the process and not worrying about the product. Their outlook on the world, daily habits and expanded interests are the outcome. If they had focused on their learnings becoming ‘a thing’ the exploration likely would have been inhibited.
That said - the more delightful creative artefacts out in the world the better!!
Great point that sometimes learning is about exploration, and that focusing too much on the end-goal can take you away from the journey. Also love the work you all are doing, thanks for sharing!
Love this article so much. Definitely going to save Bloom’s taxonomy for reference, thank you!
I’m new to the curriculum concept, and having so much fun already! But my main takeaway is that I want to retain information and the best way I know how to do so is to write about it- That’s why I started my Substack account!
Oh wow. I didn’t know a personal curriculum was a thing until I read this. I’m glad to see it. It’s just the way I’ve always lived. Agree that just reading and not engaging might lead to over saturation. Excellent points.
I wonder though “Now at twenty-nine, simply living no longer counts as an adventure”. Perhaps I’m odd but life seems like even more of an adventure to me now and I have 22 years on you. Perhaps it will come back around? Everyday I wake up I find another thing to greet with awe. I can only speak for myself but it seems like the older I get and the more significant losses I endure (never mind the losses of the greater world) the more I marvel that I get to keep existing at all.
I love the way you’ve talked about this! I noticed the same thing too and was confused on why the topic had gotten viral. It’s just making a reading list. I’ve been making my way through a monster of an anthology that dives into environmental writing since Henry David Thoreau. Once I’m finished and read some more modern works (since the book only goes to 2007), I’m going to write my own short story set in the beach town I live.
This sounds so cool! Please let me know when you’re finished the short story, if it’s something you’re thinking about posting. Would love to read it :)
“Think about it this way: reading three books on the philosophy of mind will keep you at understanding. Writing your own position paper, building your case from those sources, allows for true engagement with the material. You've moved from being a spectator to being a participant in the intellectual conversation, and you have something to show for your efforts.”
I agree. I actually find the entire monthly curriculum conversation interesting and dare I say, a trend. And one that will die for the reasons you mentioned. It’s simply to look smart, catch the algorithm and get likes. Because really, those who love learning have been doing this since they can remember, without prompting from a viral post. And they understand that there is very little that one month of learning will actually have you…learn
Thanku Meaghan, for sharing this! I think your approach is a beautiful way to not only read but also live. To have a question in mind you dearly want to answer gives your life a new mystery. To write down informally- especially informally, just for yourself- what you went through (in books, in life) lets you relive the experience in a new way, as now you understand what the whole thing was, you have some reflections on it, clearer questions, no? I always feel this during the second draft—it’s a deeper, fresher experience. With that being said, not everyone needs to do that to enjoy life or reading in their own way!
But before it all gets lost into the void of saying every approach has value- or that this isn’t the point of the whole trend- I wonder if you could define what learning (or reading) means to you. What results from learning are you hoping for? I’ve seen people argue very different things while using the same word. Even if a debate doesn’t break out here, readers could walk away with very different interpretations(often one that dilutes it into superfiscial ritual) of your piece without that clarity. No harm in that, though.
Definitely a good point, that learning can mean different things for different people! For me it’s the goal of getting to the bottom of how the world works (in my opinion), deciding what I think is true vs not true. And then the little bits of truth I’m able to build along the way, in the reading of books and self-study, build on themselves over time towards a broader philosophy on life. It sounds abstract, but that (highly personalized) philosophy constantly has real implications for how I make decisions and tackle challenges in life. Which is why I think people, whenever possible, should use self-study to develop those positions for themselves. Otherwise you leave yourself open to everyone else’s opinions and interpretations and philosophies. As always, just my opinion!
Yes! This is what I’ve been saying about the whole curriculum thing. I LOVE that it’s a trend but most people are just giving reading lists which is just a monthly TBR, not a curriculum!
hmmm—i’m stuck on the idea that “setting your sights on an output creates a sense of urgency.” so much of how we’re taught to move through the world is already shaped by urgency—especially the urgency to produce. i wonder if it might be more generative, in times of self-study, to ask:
• what feels alive for me here?
• what do i want to carry forward?
• what do i want to feel—not just know—through this learning?
sometimes those questions might lead to an essay or project. other times they might invite sitting with the material a little longer—or even choosing no action at all. maybe the truest creation is what shifts inside us.
because while it’s true that everything can be packaged into a product these days, not everything needs to be—maybe the adventure of learning can be more expansive than that. maybe the “output” is how we allow the learning to move us, guiding us into greater alignment with our creative purpose.
Thank you for this take :) learning is such an individual thing, I agree that there has to be value for some people in more open-ended study without defined goals. I guess it just depends on what you’re trying to get out of it.
I also sense that the PC trend (as it appears on TikTok, etc) is a response to this feeling of overwhelm, urgency and hustle culture. Some are attracted to the idea of making learning attractive again after traumatic experiences of education as it was during a pandemic (specific age groups; areas that were in year-long lockdowns; etc). Some are also excited by the intention to explore and be curious with more flexibility and personalisation, rather than the intention to prove their understanding, set achievement indicators or be traditionally productive with an end in mind. I’m watching this trend play out in so many ways and I’m interested to see what it looks like a year from now.
That’s a really good point, hustle culture is definitely the driver these days so valuing more present-oriented, for-their-own sake practices is a good counterbalance. For me personally, I spend so much time down rabbit holes of ideas that I think I use the output goals to justify the time spent, to say at the end, “here is what I have to show for that time” which makes it more meaningful for me. But at the end of the day, I do it because I love it and I think that’s the case for most people and the most important part! The trend seems to me like a collective celebration of our love of learning.
Reading this after publishing my first post ever hits different ^^ I feel like I am that one good student who listens to my lecturer's advices with "I'm glad I did that" kinda thought 🤣🙏🏻
I don't think we should be policing the way people want to learn. There's no right or wrong way to learn, everyone is different and has different capabilities and there shouldn't be standards set. This just creates a sense of superiority for people who are doing it your way, which defeats the point of this 'trend', and quite frankly comes across as very judgemental. I think it's great that adults are taking their own time to learn something new, no matter what format it looks like.
I think this is a good point, which I think also emphasizes the beauty of the whole "curriculum" trend. At least, from the minimal videos I've seen about it, a lot of people point out that you can do everything at your own pace, pick your own topics, take notes as you wish, etc.
Regarding Meaghan's point in this article, though, does bring up a good point in questioning how much you're really "learning" something. I am in no way an expert in learning models or how an individual truly feels they "learned" something, but I feel like putting it into a perspective of creation helped me, at least.
I totally agree with you, though. A lot of people should be careful in how they talk about making their own learning programs and not coming across in a "this is the best/only way to do this!" type of tone. I am curious what works best for someone if creation and output is not necessarily the end goal. Do they reenforce their learning with irl conversations? Or do they just simply feel like reading or consuming media is enough?
The fact that we find critique as policing is very interesting
I know right! I’ve been noodling on that a lot lately with regards to what I write on Substack: how much hand-holding do I need to do, how many comforting disclaimers do I need, to have my work labeled as constructive criticism rather than judgmental and policing… and do I even want to do that work? Luckily there are many people on this platform interested in ideas and self-education that don’t seem to need that.
I have this belief that it is no way to please everyone. You will always have people who find offense where there may be correction or simply an opinion. And no matter how much you try to comfort and handhold, that person will never be happy. So write what you write. Explore what you explore. These people aren’t your readers. Those who are will find you.
That's ridiculous, I'm not offended. I simply gave my opinion the same way you are giving your opinion on my comment. I disagree with what the author said and I think it's more important to be supportive of people trying to learn than pointing out flaws. We're all free to give our opinions and move on with our days.
Do you feel the intention of the piece was to point out flaws? Or do you disagree with the idea that an output is the final step to learning? I don't think you can say the author is "policing" when she clearly stated that the Bloom Taxonomy is her personal blueprint for self study. She did what she was talking about and took a topic and broke it down for others to understand and then execute, if they wish. She never said there was anything wrong with intellectual tourism, only that it's different than intellectual exploration because of the final step of an output. I think you came off super accusational in your original comment when the piece itself wasn't a standard or rule, it was an output of a study, in it of itself, to show a few approaches to in depth self-study. Would love to hear your thoughts on the questions I asked in the beginning!
I love this idea. I’m good at the reading part, but have always been terrible at the creating part. Maybe it’s just a matter of forcing a question on myself, but this seems like a great solution to just being a spectator for your own intellectual journey.
Exactly!! I love reading too but I feel extra satisfied if I commit to answering even one question.
I've read this article twice and I'm definitely without a doubt coming back to it again. Recently, I've fallen in love with the idea of consciously learning but I easily get overwhelmed because I struggle with finding a starting point. I love how your article not only emphasises why it's so important to create, but with all the examples you've given us so we can start. Love this idea so much!!
I'm so glad it was helpful, and definitely keep me posted with what you come up with <3
i spent today making my september curriculum and while doing my before-bed substack reading, this came on my feed! and I'm so glad it did! my main goal for my curriculum was creating, more specifically doing it more consistently, and so far i have a small lists of things i want to write/create. writing mini research essays is a hobby of mine that's been stuck in the attic for a while and reading this felt like getting a green light to write and look into more "non-conventional" topics, which I've always wanted to do but feel intimidated by! hopefully by the end of the month, i will have at least 3 essays that i can post ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ
Yaass 👏 can’t wait to read what you come up with!
A great read… which I agree and disagree with! For 5 years we’ve been hosting month-long collective explorations of themes. Imagine 100 people all being curious about Sound, Colour, Rewilding together at once. It spawns all kinds of creative explorations. It’s a curriculum for an eclectic creative life.
A part of our framework is encouraging and supporting people to release an idea inspired by their Quest at the end of the month (no matter how small!). 100s of beautifulprojects have come to life!
It’s an important part of the creative process for some - but not for others.
Some of the most profound changes I’ve seen in people come from simply being totally immersed in the process and not worrying about the product. Their outlook on the world, daily habits and expanded interests are the outcome. If they had focused on their learnings becoming ‘a thing’ the exploration likely would have been inhibited.
That said - the more delightful creative artefacts out in the world the better!!
Thanks for your great piece 🫶
Great point that sometimes learning is about exploration, and that focusing too much on the end-goal can take you away from the journey. Also love the work you all are doing, thanks for sharing!
Love this article so much. Definitely going to save Bloom’s taxonomy for reference, thank you!
I’m new to the curriculum concept, and having so much fun already! But my main takeaway is that I want to retain information and the best way I know how to do so is to write about it- That’s why I started my Substack account!
Oh wow. I didn’t know a personal curriculum was a thing until I read this. I’m glad to see it. It’s just the way I’ve always lived. Agree that just reading and not engaging might lead to over saturation. Excellent points.
I wonder though “Now at twenty-nine, simply living no longer counts as an adventure”. Perhaps I’m odd but life seems like even more of an adventure to me now and I have 22 years on you. Perhaps it will come back around? Everyday I wake up I find another thing to greet with awe. I can only speak for myself but it seems like the older I get and the more significant losses I endure (never mind the losses of the greater world) the more I marvel that I get to keep existing at all.
I love the way you’ve talked about this! I noticed the same thing too and was confused on why the topic had gotten viral. It’s just making a reading list. I’ve been making my way through a monster of an anthology that dives into environmental writing since Henry David Thoreau. Once I’m finished and read some more modern works (since the book only goes to 2007), I’m going to write my own short story set in the beach town I live.
This sounds so cool! Please let me know when you’re finished the short story, if it’s something you’re thinking about posting. Would love to read it :)
Great article. Loved this quote below
“Think about it this way: reading three books on the philosophy of mind will keep you at understanding. Writing your own position paper, building your case from those sources, allows for true engagement with the material. You've moved from being a spectator to being a participant in the intellectual conversation, and you have something to show for your efforts.”
I agree. I actually find the entire monthly curriculum conversation interesting and dare I say, a trend. And one that will die for the reasons you mentioned. It’s simply to look smart, catch the algorithm and get likes. Because really, those who love learning have been doing this since they can remember, without prompting from a viral post. And they understand that there is very little that one month of learning will actually have you…learn
Thanku Meaghan, for sharing this! I think your approach is a beautiful way to not only read but also live. To have a question in mind you dearly want to answer gives your life a new mystery. To write down informally- especially informally, just for yourself- what you went through (in books, in life) lets you relive the experience in a new way, as now you understand what the whole thing was, you have some reflections on it, clearer questions, no? I always feel this during the second draft—it’s a deeper, fresher experience. With that being said, not everyone needs to do that to enjoy life or reading in their own way!
But before it all gets lost into the void of saying every approach has value- or that this isn’t the point of the whole trend- I wonder if you could define what learning (or reading) means to you. What results from learning are you hoping for? I’ve seen people argue very different things while using the same word. Even if a debate doesn’t break out here, readers could walk away with very different interpretations(often one that dilutes it into superfiscial ritual) of your piece without that clarity. No harm in that, though.
Definitely a good point, that learning can mean different things for different people! For me it’s the goal of getting to the bottom of how the world works (in my opinion), deciding what I think is true vs not true. And then the little bits of truth I’m able to build along the way, in the reading of books and self-study, build on themselves over time towards a broader philosophy on life. It sounds abstract, but that (highly personalized) philosophy constantly has real implications for how I make decisions and tackle challenges in life. Which is why I think people, whenever possible, should use self-study to develop those positions for themselves. Otherwise you leave yourself open to everyone else’s opinions and interpretations and philosophies. As always, just my opinion!
I'm starting a personal curriculum to study love and loss, which is the core theme of my novel :)
Yes! This is what I’ve been saying about the whole curriculum thing. I LOVE that it’s a trend but most people are just giving reading lists which is just a monthly TBR, not a curriculum!
this is so phenomenal!!!!! i hope i can slowly implement a similar system into my life! thank u so much 🩷
hmmm—i’m stuck on the idea that “setting your sights on an output creates a sense of urgency.” so much of how we’re taught to move through the world is already shaped by urgency—especially the urgency to produce. i wonder if it might be more generative, in times of self-study, to ask:
• what feels alive for me here?
• what do i want to carry forward?
• what do i want to feel—not just know—through this learning?
sometimes those questions might lead to an essay or project. other times they might invite sitting with the material a little longer—or even choosing no action at all. maybe the truest creation is what shifts inside us.
because while it’s true that everything can be packaged into a product these days, not everything needs to be—maybe the adventure of learning can be more expansive than that. maybe the “output” is how we allow the learning to move us, guiding us into greater alignment with our creative purpose.
Thank you for this take :) learning is such an individual thing, I agree that there has to be value for some people in more open-ended study without defined goals. I guess it just depends on what you’re trying to get out of it.
I also sense that the PC trend (as it appears on TikTok, etc) is a response to this feeling of overwhelm, urgency and hustle culture. Some are attracted to the idea of making learning attractive again after traumatic experiences of education as it was during a pandemic (specific age groups; areas that were in year-long lockdowns; etc). Some are also excited by the intention to explore and be curious with more flexibility and personalisation, rather than the intention to prove their understanding, set achievement indicators or be traditionally productive with an end in mind. I’m watching this trend play out in so many ways and I’m interested to see what it looks like a year from now.
That’s a really good point, hustle culture is definitely the driver these days so valuing more present-oriented, for-their-own sake practices is a good counterbalance. For me personally, I spend so much time down rabbit holes of ideas that I think I use the output goals to justify the time spent, to say at the end, “here is what I have to show for that time” which makes it more meaningful for me. But at the end of the day, I do it because I love it and I think that’s the case for most people and the most important part! The trend seems to me like a collective celebration of our love of learning.
Reading this after publishing my first post ever hits different ^^ I feel like I am that one good student who listens to my lecturer's advices with "I'm glad I did that" kinda thought 🤣🙏🏻