Video Tour
Why Self-Directed Learning?
About Acton Academy
Learn more about the Acton Academy approach to education
The Acton Academy mission is to inspire each child and parent who enters our doors to find a calling that will change the world.
Disruptive education: Short documentary about Acton Academy
Day in the life: A look at learning that happens every day inside an Acton Academy.
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”
TED Talks about Education
Heroes of Education talk about what a 21st Century education means
Rethinking Schools, Genius and Heroes - Acton Academy Founder Jeff Sandefer shares his thoughts on the revolution happening in education
Carol Dweck talks about the “power of yet” and "growth mindset" - the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems.
Todd Rose, high school dropout turned Harvard faculty, talks about how a simple new way of thinking helps nurture individual potential.
Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with a mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.
Do Schools Kill Creativity? Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.
In a fun and personal talk, Ramsey Musallam gives 3 rules to spark imagination and learning, and get students excited about how the world works.
“The teacher’s task is to initiate the learning process and then get out of the way.”
Models of Education
Acton Academy Columbus is inspired by Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Anji Play
Montessori Education is based on the principles developed by Maria Montessori, who opened her first school for children of low-income workers in an apartment building in Rome in 1907. The school was called “Casa Dei Bambini”, Home for Children.
The Reggio Emilia approach is based on the philosophy of "an image of a child". All children are viewed as full of potential, with an innate sense of curiosity and endless imagination. They are creative, capable of constructing their own learning and they have a natural interest to explore.
Anji Play: Playing is an integral part of childhood. Many researchers believe that during a child’s early years, playing can help develop cognitive skills, laying a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning.
More Great Education Videos
What would schools look like if they were invented today rather than in the industrial age?
Jet Cockpits and the Average person: Todd Rose - author of "The End of Average" - uses the story to wonder and provoke how human potential can be unlocked in the U.S. by considering how schools can be re-designed and updated for the future.
There are two types of mindsets we can cultivate. One that embraces problems as opportunities to learn, and one that avoids them, often out of fear to fail.