There are all sorts of specialist terms and buzzwords floating around in the world of education and professional coaching these days.  Ironically, some of the most new and cutting-edge have their roots in the most ancient Greek learning styles.  

A quick low down: Pedagogy is the teaching of children or dependent personalities. Andragogy is the facilitation of learning for adults, who are self-directed learners. Heutagogy is the management of learning for self-managed learners.  The latter is what we are deep diving into today, as it is an innovative way of learning that is growing in popularity, and for good reason!

Heutagogy is a relatively new term in the field of education and focuses on self-directed learning, where the learners are responsible for creating their own learning goals, methods, and assessments. It is based on the idea that in today’s constantly evolving and rapidly changing world, learners need to be able to take responsibility for their own learning in order to keep up with the demands of modern society. This approach differs significantly from traditional pedagogy and andragogy, which rely on teachers and trainers to provide learners with the knowledge and skills they need.

Where does this word come from?

The term heutagogy was coined by Hase and Kenyon in 2000, who defined it as “self-determined learning” or “self-directed learning” which is actually quite a widely known concept already. The word “heutagogy” comes from much further back in history though – from the Greek word “heutagogia”, which means self-leadership or self-guidance. The basic premise of heutagogy is essentially that learners are capable of directing their own learning and can be trusted to do so.  It is therefore intended to be empowering and freeing.

In heutagogy, the learner is at the centre of the learning process, and the role of the teacher or trainer is to act as a facilitator, guide, or coach, rather than a direct top-down instructor.

Why is this a good approach to learning?

Heutagogy is particularly focused on the learner’s interest and motivation – after all, we do better at things when we enjoy them!  This student-centred learning approach is built on the principles of self-determination theory, which is based on the belief that people are intrinsically motivated to learn and grow and that they are capable of taking charge of their own learning process.

Heutagogy emphasises the importance of learners taking responsibility for their learning and developing the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the learning process. It involves a shift away from more traditional teacher-centred learning, where the teacher is the expert and the students are passive recipients of knowledge, towards a more collaborative, and arguably empowering approach, where the learners take an active role in the learning process and are responsible for their own learning.

One of the key features of heutagogy is that it recognizes that learning is an ongoing process that takes place both inside and outside of formal educational settings. This means that learners are encouraged to seek out and create their own learning opportunities, rather than relying solely on traditional educational institutions.

Heutagogy also places a strong emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to apply knowledge to real-world situations. This means that learners are encouraged to engage in activities that allow them to explore complex problems and think critically about different perspectives, even from a relatively young age.

Can this help me find a better job?

It might sound a bit ‘high-browed’ and irrelevant but in the world of work, directors and recruiters are increasingly looking for individuals who can teach themselves key skills on the job, take responsibility for their own learning and CPD and keep up with a rapidly changing work-scape.  As such, this way of learning is especially valuable for preparing learners as they step out of education into higher education where self-teaching is needed, and then out again into the workplace where this skill and approach is deemed increasingly vital by employers.