Autodidact (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what a self-taught person is, its advantages and disadvantages. Also, tips to be self-taught.

What is a self-taught person?

A self-taught person is one who, instead of resorting to traditional teaching and the guidance of third parties, teaches itself new knowledge, using the means at its disposal.

In this way, the knowledge acquired in a self-taught way is that which we have learned on our own, without going to teachers or tutors, or to institutes or schools of any kind.

The word autodidact comes from two Greek words: cars (“by itself”) and didaskein (“teach”), and this way of acquiring new knowledge is also known as self-learning. It is a form of learning common to both humans and different species of mammals, as is the case with learning through play among young animals.

Self-taught learning has numerous virtues compared to guided learning, in the sense that it allows the individual to learn entirely in their own way and at their own paceapplying constructive reasoning, that is, “discovering” what has been learned.

It is a common model in distance (and online) teaching, in which curiosity, deductive ability and passion are of vital importance.

However, self-learning also has the disadvantage that not everything can be learned in this way: certain knowledge is very theoretical or counterintuitive and its acquisition requires specialized guidance.

Furthermore, in many cases the self-taught learner lacks the objective criteria to differentiate reliable information from unreliable information, which is reflected in the absence of socially accepted documents that legitimize it (such as titles, diplomas, etc.).

How to be a self-taught person?

There are people with a marked self-taught vocation, for whom learning on their own comes naturally, while for others it is easier to stick to a traditional teaching method. This does not mean that some are better than others, far from it, but that each person has certain privileged ways of learning.

In fact, it is also common that some topics and knowledge are more susceptible to self-learning than others. However, if we want to promote self-taught learning in ourselves, there are certain tips that we can apply, such as the following:

Be passionate about knowledge. A vital component of self-taught learning is that it is driven by a large dose of enthusiasm and passion. It has been shown that the brain more easily incorporates knowledge for which it is enthusiastic, so a self-taught person will do well to cultivate their passions, that is, to try to get excited about the very idea of learning.
Encourage curiosity. Curiosity and interest in knowing how things operate is a great ally of self-taught learning, since this desire to know will be what leads us to study on our own. After all, a self-taught person does not know in advance how to learn things, but rather discovers it along the way, thanks to his dedication and interest.
Be disciplined. The third crucial aspect for self-taught learning is self-discipline, that is, the ability to organize time and resources on one's own to make room for new knowledge. To learn something well you have to be tenacious, consistent, and you cannot dedicate little time to the subject. If you really want to learn, you must be diligent, whether you go to classes or learn on your own.
Be methodical. The ideal thing to learn on your own is to focus on the subject before moving on to another, so that one piece of knowledge facilitates the learning of the following, like a door that opens the next ones. Thus, it is advisable to be organized and advance step by step, without wanting to run before flying, since there will be no one there to tell you what to do first.
Use different methods. If you encounter difficulties, try to vary the method you apply. Try diagrams, mind maps, summaries and conceptualizations, always trying to discover what your ideal method for learning is. Keep in mind that this method may vary depending on the subject studied, so you will often have to advance through trial and error.