Freedom is a core value for us at SOLI Hub.
It begins right at the outset with the freedom to participate. The decision to participate belongs solely to children. The school or parents have no role here. Also, they are free to join, drop, re-join at any stage of the project. Children who had initially decided not to participate but are now interested are welcomed.
Why do we have such a loose structure, such an apparently lax attitude?
Because we believe that an atmosphere of freedom is essential for authentic learning to happen. Compulsion vitiates the desire to learn, to know and participate. Any form of coercion, be it the carrot of extrinsic rewards, grades, certificates and badges or the imperceptible pressure to conform to rules and norms, hampers the learning process.
The best learning is impelled by curiosity, by the desire to know. By the excitement new knowledge generates. And the desire to have more of it. Our self-organised learning sessions are eagerly awaited. We have had children ask for sessions on Sundays, just so they get more time!
When curiosity is stoked, compulsion to learn becomes a driving force. The end-goal is to satisfy oneself. The impetus to learn then, is an internal thing, is self-directed, not determined by any outside factor, like a set syllabus or participation in an Olympiad.
From this stems another freedom – do things the way children think is right.
Over time our children have set their own targets, determined what exactly they want to do and how. They seek help when they feel the need. They sift through various pieces of advice and guidance they receive and incorporate what they find appropriate.
Our children analyse, strategize, accept, reject, judge, make mistakes, course-correct and move forward.
Freedom lies at the core of innovation. You require freedom to imagine. It’s not easy. Especially because the rigours of our school system, larger societal pressures to conform to ideas of what is right and acceptable, stymie the ability to imagine. Right from our childhood we are taught to be correct. To follow the dotted line. Deviation appears precariously close to deviance.
Is it easy to work with freedom?
Initially no. Our children, so used to following directions, doing things the way they’ve been instructed to do, so scared of faltering, scared of being ridiculed by peers when they make mistakes – just could not digest the idea of freedom. However, it did not take them long to get the feel of things and embrace this way of doing things.
We’ve seen children come together, collaborate, reflect on their learning and themselves. We’ve seen children introspect. We’ve seen the quiet ones, the shy ones open up.
At SOLI Hub, we’ve seen freedom set into motion a dynamic that has brought about organic change in our children.