Empowering youth through learning

One of the hallmarks of an enterprising mindset is the capacity to be responsible – for successes and challenges, as well as for the path taken along the way.

For young people, developing the ability to take ownership early on is the foundation upon which this and other enterprising behaviours can flourish.

In an era marked by unpredictability and uncertainty, it’s possible these skills have never been more important for future generations.

So, how can we empower young people to direct their learning, playing an active role as they prepare for the demands, challenges and opportunities of an ever-changing world?

The benefits of an enterprising environment

Enterprising traits underpin every area of learning, from classroom subjects to broader life skills. From an early age, children can develop the fundamentals of an enterprising mindset in the environments they are exposed to and engage within.

The role of parents, other caregivers, educators and others in the community is important. When trusted adults guide and participate with children as they explore, they can demonstrate their own curiosity, thinking processes and approaches to learning. This modelling shows children that enterprising behaviours are both valuable and valued, offering a sound basis from which to integrate and apply them in other contexts.

Discovery through play

An enterprising environment creates opportunities for young people to direct and explore their learning through play. Play allows children the freedom to learn autonomously and in collaboration with others, harnessing their natural curiosity to engage with the people, places and objects around them.

With guidance, children benefit in several ways across their cognitive, social, physical and emotional development – for example, by honing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fostering their creativity, and strengthening their interest in learning. This nurtures the self-confidence needed to both initiate opportunities for play and incorporate calculated risk-taking as they explore.

Inquiry-based learning

Similarly, an inquiry-based approach positions young people to set the direction of their learning, particularly within school environments where it has become a popular pedagogical method. With guidance and in line with curriculum requirements, students are encouraged to inform the topics, content and structure of their learning.

Educators can facilitate the experience by presenting related materials and initiating discussion, providing opportunities for collaboration, highlighting real-world applications, and posing questions to promote critical thinking and encourage problem solving.

When applied effectively, this approach can create a safe, inclusive environment in which all students feel able to participate, lead, and voice their opinions and reflections.

Leveraging technology

Technology continues to fundamentally redefine the skills and employment needs of today and tomorrow.

When used effectively and responsibly, digital applications can inspire interactive, curious and highly engaged learning. They have broken down the boundaries of the home and classroom, inviting young people into a realm of rich learning opportunities that were previously inaccessible.

For young learners, acquiring digital literacy skills is already part of modern pedagogy. Digital tools and platforms support children’s abilities to undertake research, learn collaboratively and formulate responses to tasks. These applications can also have the benefit of instilling a global, outward-looking perspective in young learners that will support them professionally and personally.

This list is far from exhaustive. However, it outlines some of the approaches and experiences that can support young people to take ownership of their learning, providing the grounding to view it with wonder, appreciation and a sense of possibility.

With this perspective, they will be well-positioned to engage fully with learning opportunities, actively and confidently directing their own course with an enterprising mindset from the start.

Get in touch to find out more about how we can collaborate to support young people in our communities.