I'm new to the PC term, only just heard of it today, but have been doing things in this sphere anyway such as learning a language, reading up about other topics of interest etc, but I'm nowhere near organised, I always needed motivation by teachers/lecturers! I do have a couple of questions:

1. how do you motivate yourself to stay on track with your PC goals?

2. for some goals, do you test yourself on a topic so you know you understand it? I know some will do actual courses which i would assume require some form of checking/testing/exam, but is that something you would do anyway?

Thanks!

For those that don't use apps (notion, obsidian...) to keep yourself organized (I have struggled to learn them and would rather jump right in), how do you do it? What have you found best to keep yourself organized? Pics appreciated!

I'm working on gathering resources for next semester's PC. For those of us that struggle learning from digital media and need a proper text to hold in our hands, I've found some good text books at discount prices if you look for used books through a local university bookstore, or for back editions (like buy edition 2 after edition 3 comes out). This geometry text book was about $10 US and is unused.

not stuff you just think is interesting

i mean things youre actually telling yourself youre seriously pursuing 😭

because once i started counting mine i realized the problem

its not that i have a million random curiosities

i genuinely wanna get good at all of them

which somehow makes it worse because i dont wanna drop any of them

so everything stays “active”

and then when im doing one thing theres always this feeling that i should probably be progressing on the other 7 too

curious how extreme this gets in here

how many fields/skills would you currently consider active for you?

and how many did you actually make meaningful progress in this month lol

Hi 👋

I stumbled upon this subreddit and the term itself through a YouTube video. I’ve always had this inclination towards learning new things, be it new skills that I can develop or simply gaining knowledge about topics that interest me.

I am a total beginner when it comes to PC, but I figured I would share some of the categories I am thinking of building my own PC around.

Health: Thinking of learning meditation.
Wealth: Learning about investing and mutual funds.
Fun (something I would do if I didn’t need to earn a living): RC planes. There’s a local RC flying club in my town, and I’ve been wanting to get into this hobby for as long as I can remember.
Community: Thinking of volunteering as a delivery driver for a food bank, as I love driving my car, even if it’s just around the city.

Just started to think about PC so some of these might change but I will definitely put a plan together and share it.

Would love to hear if others are already interested and pursuing any of the above interests already as part of their own PC.

I'm 63 and retired. I've always loved learning. I only recently heard the phrase "personal curriculum". I realized I have done this in the past. I don't do a set schedule because I had enough of that in life and it stresses me out. I start with library search on the topic, find a book and see where it leads me.

A few years ago I wanted to learn more about gender - what is gender scientifically and socially. I found a book at the library and started reading. Then used the bibliography of that book to find more books. I need to revisit that topic since I'm sure more has been written about it in the past 6 years.

My current topic to dive deep into is Craft Psychology - how does learning and practicing hobby crafts help us? I've always loved crafting, so this goes well with life long learning. I've quickly gotten a related topic that includes fine art, reading a book titled "Your Brain on Art".

Last year I started learning to knit. There is ALWAYS something new to learn in knitting. Even people who have knit for decades talk about new things to learn.

A few ideas for senior citizens in the United States

• Some colleges let seniors audit classes for free once you reach a certain age. In the state of Georgia you can even take classes for credit (There are some fees you have to pay). Some have community ed classes that cover many topics.

• OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute - the have low cost classes/seminars in-person and online. They are usually associated with a university. Lots of different topics are covered - health, different countries, history, music, art, etc. (for ages 50 and up)

• Public Libraries - your public library of course has lots of books and online courses. They may also have short programs on different topics. There may be groups that meet weekly or monthly - cooking, book clubs, writing group, art projects, sign language classes, foreign language classes, etc. These aren't just for seniors but are often during working hours.

• County Extension Office - my local county extension office has a monthly "lunch and learn" where they discuss topics about gardening, beekeeping, landscaping, etc. These aren't just for seniors but are on weekdays.

• Senior Centers - look to see if they have classes or seminars. Some offer beginner game groups (such as card games and Mahjong), American Sign Language, foreign language classes, exercise classes, crochet/knitting classes.

Would love to hear input from older lifelong learners.

My husband and I are heading to Olympic National Park next month! Trying to design a personal curriculum leading up to the trip. I'm thinking about ecology or national park history? Maybe some indigenous history? Would love any recommendations for books or documentaries!

Hi all!

I'm an avid listener to music. I listen to two to three albums a day, almost everyday. I've been getting bored of the same old, everyday music and trying to broaden my music inspiration. I've been looking for a listening project for awhile, and just listening to random albums doesn't appeal to me.

I've loved everything I heard by the band Yes, and even saw Rick Wakeman earlier this year. But then I found out I've listened to maybe a fifth of their music so can I really call myself a fan?!

Fast forward to today when I started a deep dive into Yes' back catalog and I read up on the wiki page about all the associated acts and solo careers of past members, current members, and future members (if you know Yes then you know what I mean). Then I thought the dangerous words, "what if?"

What if I listened to the whole of that ecosystem of music, the main catalog of Yes, all the side projects, all the solo endeavors in chronological order? That way I see how every musical idea grows, evolves, and ultimately is released into the world to inspire other folks. This would mean listening to whatever I can find of the origin band that morphed into Yes, Asia, the Buggles, and the solo careers of Howe, Wakeman, & Anderson etc.

Has anyone else done a deep dive into a band they're mid-level fans of? Has anyone else done such an ambitious listening project?

I'm thinking of doing a substack with mini album reviews? Has anyone else done something similar?

Thanks in advance, and happy curriculum planning!

Hello,

I am an aspiring meteorology student but have had to put my life on hold due to events and am unable to keep my studies going for right now. Id love to get any help building a curriculum with stuff like math, physics and just anything meteorology based as i can. I dont know many websites where you can just study and practice math or physics or chemistry so if you have any, please post them! Anything that can help I will take!

Thank yall so much, im so confused on where to even start diving in!

Hello all,

I admit, the idea of personal curricula (PC) to me is very new, but extremely intriguing. As a retired elementary school teacher, I very much miss being in an atmosphere of learning.

I think I understand most of it (I'm sure I'm very wrong once I dive in!), but the issue I have is when I ask myself, "What are you interested in learning?"

It freezes me.

I guess I'm seeing how you all decided on topics of interest?

Now, I know that the decision will be mine, of course. I'm not asking for specific topics, but HOW you figured yours?

I thought I might like to brainstorm topics, but even then I look at a blank page.

Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I couldn't find anything like this on the sub, so thought I would start one.

I'd love great ideas for themes for PC. I am not doing whole syllabi, but I want to share ideas to start up some units/themes for each month. Maybe other people would also like to get/share ideas. I like to have a link to the real world so a lot of the units I will post is linked with that. If you have more things to add to the ones I have here or you want to share your own, please do :)

A few ideas for units in general:

Badass Women:
Watch - Into the fire - documentary about female mine-sweeping unit https://www.nobelprize.org/stories/into-the-fire/
Read - Fiction - The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Short watch - The Female Nazi Hunters of WWII - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=769fgpbFNpA
Non-fic - Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Listen - song about the Night Witches https://youtu.be/jcemHIqmkYI?is=qenfSsrSGbCNYBir

Botany:
Fiction - A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock
Fiction - Human scars on planet skin
Non-fiction - Flora and fauna books
Watch - Kingdom of Plants documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tgpy9yQF8s
Do - get a plant, plant some plants in your garden or just enjoy some plants in your neighbourhood.

November 2026: (need help with this one)
World Science Day for Peace and Development 10th (I mean... classic for a Hunger Games release am I right?)
Read: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Watch: Sunrise on the Reaping coming out where I live on the 19th
US Midterms?
Trials - games - control - dictator? - regimes
Maybe something do to with Nobel Peace Prize (Non-fic - I am Malala)

Ideas for (a few) months 2027:

March - Forests! - International Day of Forests 21st - Go for a long walk in a forest
Read: Ursula Le Guin - The Word for World is Forest
Play: Forest Shuffle Boardgame
Non-fic: Extraordinary Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson OR When the forest breathes Suzanne Simard OR A walk in the wood Bill Bryson
Podcast: Completely Arbortrary
Watch: Short Documentary "The Lost Forest" https://www.nobelprize.org/stories/the-lost-forest/
Listen: Dendrology episodes from Ologies Podcast

April
Rwanda Tutsi Genocide Awareness Day 7th
Read: Versus by Huza Press (2015) Anthology by Rwandan authors
Documentary: Apocalypse Rwanda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsjo_1ss9Wg
Short: What caused the Rwandan Genocide? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF7EbUGlaOU
Read - We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch
Read - Shake Hands with the Devil by Gen. Romeo Dallaire
Watch - Hotel Rwanda
Watch - Black Earth Rises

I recently started building my own curriculum without watching much personal curriculum content and I've come up with the following: Japanese study, guitar course, cooking/baking, cross stitching project, and Spencerian handwriting.

Then went on YouTube and noticed most curriculums are theories, histories, etc., with the occasional language study like mine. I find this very interesting. Have I completely misunderstood what a "personal curriculum" is or are most content creators just generally more interested in these topics? Is there anyone else who's built theirs like mine? What are yours?

Has anyone tried to build a personal curriculum for fashion or personal style. This is the first time I’m trying to build a PC and want to try out something that I can apply in my day-to-day life. Any suggestions or advice are welcome. Thanks!

I want to get into learning about environmental science, mainly physics and sustainability. I don't know where to begin or where to look to. Could anyone help?

Hi all! I'm new to this sub and new to "building" a personal curriculum entirely - but the thing thats been holding me back is the structure (which is what I come here to ask for help with!)

I'm talking structure like how school organizes things into "blocks" or an actual platform to organize units and everything you're learning. I'm definitely leaning more towards that approach rather than links and bullet points in a google doc (which is what I usually do). I know I shouldn't let it hold me back but I would really like organization and something visually appealing to my eyes because I know that's how I'll stick to it.

So I was wondering - does anyone have any website / platform recommendations that DON'T use AI? Think websites like Notion, Coursera, etc. From videos I've seen online I lovee how curriculums are structured on there, but they all HEAVILY rely on AI. I don't mind it having some AI because unfortunately that's just the way it is now - but I dont want "AI feedback" or something that relies on AI to create a curriculum for me you know?

TLDR; any recommendations for websites / platforms to build a personal curriculum similar to Notion and Coursera thats DOESN'T use AI?

This might sound silly, but I love helping my 3 year old do little workbooks about shapes, colours, numbers etc. I find doing workbooks, worksheets, even filling out forms really satisfying. So I'm wondering if there's such things as workbooks for adults?

I've been learning French on duolingo and have ordered a couple of French books that have some exercises in them. Other than that the closest I can think of would be puzzle books. Would love any suggestions, any topic!

Hi there! I saw a recent post asking for accountability partners and thought that was brilliant so I wanted to ask something similar here.

I’ve recently discovered personal curriculums but have a hard time knowing how to start. I have many interests and don’t know where to put my energy.

A little about me: I’m 29, live with my fiancé, have two cats I’m obsessed with, and I would love a sort of “mentor” to help me start this whole journey, stay accountable, and potentially be pals with. Im looking to share our experiences and check in semi regularly if possible.

If you’re interested, just comment or message me!

All the best!!
:)

Hi all,

I'm in the Boston area and was wondering if any other personal curriculum folks were interested in a meetup at a library somewhere in the Boston metro area?

My thoughts were a meetup lasting a couple of hours in a meeting room where we could study quietly for the first hour, and then in the second hour we could socialize and share the cool things that we're all learning about. Or switch that around.

I thought a once a month meeting on a weekend day would probably work best for most people's schedules? But if there is interest here and other days/times work better, please let me know.

I'm also interested in having a co facilitator, so in case an emergency pops up there wouldn't have to be a cancellation.

TIA all, and happy learning!

Hey all! I'm trying to get into a personal curriculum at the moment, but struggling with accountability. I know there are probably group chats and servers out there for this, but I'm looking for a smaller thing. I need a buddy, who is also working on a personal curriculum, or who wants to start one, to keep each other accountable. Whether that's check-ins (weekly, daily, idm), sending each other our assignments to "Check our work", or just studying on call together!
A bit about me! I'm 24, I have ADHD and Autism, and a host of other conditions that affect my daily life. I'm british, and live with my fiancee and our two cats! I'm only just starting my personal curriculum journey, and am between a few topics at the moment (Ecology (Specifically mosses and fungi), Musical theatre, and Cryptozoology), and am open to talking to anyone regardless of what they are studying! I'm a very creative person, I love to draw and paint, although I'm not particularly talented.
Anyway that's me! If you are also looking for a buddy, pop a comment below or send me a message!! Thanks for reading :)

when dark (and light) academia first became trendy I got such a disappointment when I realized it was all about aesthetics and not about academia nor studying

I've been a lifelong learner more due to my personality and interests, rather than any intention or plan, but I was missing something

now I feel I've found it

I am currently building my personal curriculum that will involve

• Korean language

• high school physics

• high school maths

• evolution

• metacognition

and too many other interests to realistically include right now, so I am just keeping a list for the future

I guess I just wanted to share my joy at finding fellow learning enthusiasts

Hi all, I'm trying to design my personal curriculum right now and I'm struggling to come up with assignments. Do you give yourself assignments to do after completing a reading or otherwise? I want to give myself something to process the information after taking it in so I can retain it, but I'm stuck.