Lorrie’s Trailer University is now in session!
There’s only one classroom. There’s only one student (me!), but a lot of learning is happening in that small space. By the way, the small space I’m referring to is my tiny trailer. Best of all, I can learn in my driveway or on the road.
With this whimsical opening, you might think I’m not taking LTU seriously, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m all in with exploring the concept of creating a PLP (aka personal learning plan that’s self-created and self-directed, based on a big idea that interests me). Right now, it’s all the rage on Substack and the socials, with many also calling the concept a personal curriculum!
This might be an insignificant semantic distinction, but I prefer PLP over curriculum because a curriculum implies that I’m the expert instead of the learner. As a teacher, I spent countless hours creating lessons plans and units based on my expertise in subject matter areas. As a LTU student, I’m embracing the role of a seeker and learner who is aware that my studies around a chosen theme will provide more questions than answers!
Creating PLP Courses With This in Mind
Flexibility to accommodate my schedule, energy capacity, and usual life interruptions.
Choice baked into the structure so I can select activities based on my mood and the topic I’m studying.
Writing invitations and course activities that I can recycle and repeat for future areas of study so I’m not spending lots of time reinventing the wheel.
While this is a serious learning adventure, every PLP needs a bit of whimsy since self-directed projects also need to be fun. (Now you know why this is called Lorrie’s Trailer University instead of Lorrie Tom’s University.)
Possible PLP Areas of Study
The first step is figuring out what you want to study! Here’s a list of the niche topics that interest me right now:
Snooze 101 (Like many women of a certain age, I wake up at 4:00 AM a lot. This PLP focuses on ways to get myself sleeping more.)
Clutter Be Gone 101 (I hate visual clutter in our trailer when we’re on trips. This PLP focuses on figuring out trailer life storage hacks.)
Dressing Up The Dining Room Table 101 (I want to make fabric table runners and I don’t know how to assemble and finish my stitched projects.)
Squirrel Stories 101 (After reading Raising Hare—LOVED it by the way—I want to do a deep dive about creatures that visit our backyard. This one feels FUN!)
Plant Forward Favorites 101 (We’re eating mostly plant forward—doctor’s orders—and I want to create a go-to list of ten favorite dinners.)
Hidden Inheritance 101 (This one is inspired by Edmund De Waal’s memoir, The Hare With The Amber Eyes. His porcelain is currently on exhibit at the Huntington Library and I want to know everything I can before going to see it.) This is the one I’m doing first!
A Work in Progress
I have no idea if this will be a passing fancy that falls by the wayside—because I can just learn things without making it a PROJECT—but truth be told, I’m a person who loves journals, and worksheets, and writing, and ALL THE INVOLVED THINGS! I love the idea of knowing I have a class to look forward to even if it’s just with my own sweet self.
My gut also tells me that if I’m intentional about creating space in my schedule for learning about topics I’ve self-selected, I will be less likely to pick up my phone and scroll like a numb robot.
If this works (and I’m sure I’ll tweak it along the journey), I’ll share a template so you can easily insert your own niche topics into the structure, but that’s something I’ll offer down the road because I’ve got to test this lovely idea first. Since PLPs are all about the learning process, it’s good to be transparent about the beginning stages of this adventure.
In Part II of this post (coming in May), I’ll share a PLP which is about Feel Good Reading! Since many of you are avid readers, this might be of interest to you AND it’s a great way to see a working draft of the beta version of my PLP Planner at the same time.
My word of the year is LEARN so that means I want to learn from you, and any feedback is appreciated! I’d also love to know what topics YOU might study! Let’s inspire each other.
Gotta Go! Can’t be late for my first class (I hear the prof is super strict).
Always writing and learning,
I loved playing school! My favorite playtime activity was to teach my little sisters preschool. It's not really that surprising that I'm homeschooling I guess. :) This looks like a blast, Lorrie! You have turned lifelong learning into a game.