THE BASICS: WHAT IS SDE? 

Here are two videos on fundamentals, by Peter Gray and the Alliance for Self-Directed Education:


Zakiyya Ismail, Education is a Practice of Freedom

A very clear introduction to unschooling, by someone who has written a great deal about the links between unschooling and social change.

Manish Jain, Monoculture of the Mind

Manish Jain is a great thought leader and practitioner who for over 20 years has created SDE spaces in India – in community spaces, public schools, in a prison and an ecoversity (alternative university). 

Also by Manish, this audio interview, Reclaiming Wisdom and Imagination

Carol Black: Reclaiming our Children, Reclaiming our World 

Carol Black brings extraordinary social, cultural and political context and depth to all her essays and talks on unschooling. 

Reclaiming out Children, Reclaiming our World 

Also by Carol Black, Alternatives to Schooling

Learner-Centered in Focus: The Power of a Reimagined Approach to Education

A short, inspiring look at how the future of education is being created now, in spaces where learning is being completely reimagined, and young people are taking charge of their present and future. Education Reimagined looks at child-centered learning in public schools, but is also moving beyond school reform to propose The Big Idea, which is about creating community based, learner-centered ecosystems.

Akilah Richards: Raising Free People

Akilah Richards is one of the most important voices in BIPOC unschooling world, in the US and abroad. She also wrote a seminal book and hosted podcast both on unschooling.

Her TED talk is also called Raising Free People

Also by Akilah Richards, Deschooling and Decolonization

Ken Robinson’s Seminal Talk

From almost 2 decades ago, “Do Schools Kill Creativity

(you can hear a longer version of this here)

Seth Godin: Stop Stealing Dreams

Chevanni Davids: Unschooling

Gever Tully Reimagining Education


Here is a collected list of videos from some of the most influential thinkers in the movement for self-directed learning, some of the above are included.