What is a Learning Curriculum?
Learning curricula have recently shown an upward trend on websites such as Substack, where young adults are beginning to document their experience and process of learning about new interests in the topics of literature, art, and history. This process is often regarded as a ‘personalized learning curriculum’ which allows people to dive deep into the research of topics that are beyond their chosen degrees. In this article, I will be giving an in-depth guide as to how to approach this personalized learning curriculum in hopes of my readers pursuing academic interests that often seem too difficult or nuanced to learn outside of a university degree.
- Decide What Your Learning Intentions Are
Think about the themes and ideas you want to dig deeper into, while keeping subtopics in mind. Some subjects to get you started are classical literature, the feminist lens, medieval times, fairytales, space, and so much more!
2. Select Core Materials
Pick 2-3 resources:
Readings: Books, blogs, magazines, journal articles, and essays
- Specific websites to look into: Substack, Paris Review, JSTOR, Poetry Foundation, and of course Ela A!
Media: films, documentaries, interviews, podcasts, and video essays
- Sources to look into: Cannibalism in early modern English drama: a brief overview, La Bayadère Explained: A Complete Analysis of the Iconic Ballet, Sophocles’ Theban Plays | Oedipus Rex & Antigone, and Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold (2017)
Courses: MasterClass, Harvard University Courses, Yale University Courses, University of Oxford Courses
- Specific websites to look into: Margaret Atwood, Harvard Literature Courses, Yale Introduction to Theory of Literature
3. Keep Track of Your Learnings
Through journals, moodboards, or physical projects, take note of what you’re learning by asking yourself these questions:
- What are my main takeaways?
- What questions did I have before starting this resource, and how have they been answered?
- What topics or sources do I need to look into further to achieve full clarity on this subject?
- What types of connections can I draw between this subject and other topics/current world experiences?
I would recommend jotting down general questions before you start researching your topic to see how your knowledge of the topic has progressed and how you can make those questions more specific with further research.
4. Create a Schedule
Monthly: Select one topic each month
Daily: Read or watch 2 sources a day and keep note of key points
End of Each Month: Create an art piece, creative essay, or research project to commemorate and finalize all your completed research!
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