Worldschooling? Can anyone do it? What are the benefits of worldschooling?
Over the years, I’ve answered these questions over and over, in both interviews, presentations and in person. In invite you to read my thoughts below. If you have any questions you want answered about worldschool, please send me a message and I’m happy to answer your questions.
What is your personal definition of worldschooling?
For me, the broad definition of worldschooling is experiencing the world as your classroom. With that are lots of subtle differences to just unschooling, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
As a worldschooler, you can do whatever helps you access that place inside of you, inside the learner to create learning moments.. You can live a stationary life, in your home country, but consciously invite in elements & experiences of a global nature into your lives.
You can be an expat living in a foreign country or be a traveler or any type. The thing that travel provides that general unschooling does not provide is seamless exposure to new things, which inspires learning which can be in many forms.
As travelers, we look at the subtle and not so subtle differences of the world around us, and by the nature of it being new, and as a worldschooler, constantly stimulated by the outside world, the internal world is automatically inspired to be conscious and present. Similar to unschoolers who trust the process, they know that learning is happening and do see it in may aspects of the learners lives. However in my experinece, worldschoolers are actively engaged in the learning 24/7 since it’s partially survival as we strive to make sense and understand the world around us and know more, ask questions and research and partially the nature of travel, meaning that it doesn’t feel like “learning” it feels like traveling instead.
The final bit to the puzzle that in my experience is the key, is that through worldschooling I finally am present in my life and with my son. I no longer move through the day based on schedules or routines. No longer am I preoccupied with getting checks in the mail, picking up my son from school on time, taking the dogs out, making play dates or any of the other numerous responsibilities that once occupied my mind, removing me from experiencing whatever I was doing. For me, travel was my formula to stay present. I am not saying travel or worldschooling is the only way to be present, I’m saying it was my way.
Can an individual worldschool without being an unschooler? Can traditionally educated students also worldschool?
Yes. I feel more than anything else, the intentionality to learn, inspired by the world, the eyes to notice the newness, the differences and similarities, the culture, politics, history, the ecological, geological and environmental and more are all aspects of worldschooling. Sometimes people need travel to give themselves permission to do those things. However, no matter how you slice it, it’s natural self-directed learner-driven learning with a dash of intentionality and presence.
What are some of the benefits, in your opinion, of worldschooling?
Besides the feeling of being connected to one’s own internal ability to learn in real time, the consciousness of it really, the love of learning is absolutely experienced through worldschooling. As an unschooler who worldschools, I can see in real-time, learning that covers every single academic subject (language, arts, history, science, etc.) expected for a young learner to learn. Additionally, I also see so many experiential “soft skills” being honed in through travel. Examples run far and wide, but consider learning patience, teamwork, leadership, service, compassion, critical thinking, problem solving, self reliance, vast social interaction with people of all ages and walks of life, being able to have a voice to advocate for themselves, etc.
