Project Teach Yourself
What happens when you give students genuine responsibility for their own learning — instead of dictating what and how they should learn?
That's exactly what eight children from grades 5/6 in our gifted education program explored in a year-long project called "Teach Yourself." The core idea, developed by Christian Dubs: anyone who can explain a topic well enough for others to understand it has truly understood it themselves.
The children freely chose a topic from mathematics or German grammar, wrote a script, and produced their own explainer video on it — factually accurate and entertaining at the same time. The topic and its execution were entirely their own responsibility; the teachers coached rather than pre-structured the process.
What emerged: at first, self-direction felt unfamiliar — setting goals, controlling impulses, and staying on task were difficult. After a few weeks, the children found their way into efficient working habits, and high-quality explainer videos began to take shape. Through the process of explaining, many children became truly aware for the first time of how mathematics and grammar build on one another. Particular talents — from acting ability to exceptional mental arithmetic — became visible and were individually nurtured. By the end, the children described themselves as more self-critical, more independent, and more confident in recognizing others' strengths: a shift from a static to a dynamic self-image.
What's especially notable: the project requires no special materials — just a protected block of time, a clear goal, and teachers in a coaching role. That makes it transferable to other classes with a reasonable amount of effort.
"Teach Yourself" is a compelling example of what excellence support can achieve when taken seriously: recognizing talents, nurturing them individually — and integrating them collectively.
Would you like us to run the Teach Yourself project in your school district or at your school as well, please get in touch with me, or visit the Teach Yourself website to see further consultations and offers: https://teachyourself.ch
