Don’t Go Back to School audiobook cover - A Handbook for Learning Anything

Don’t Go Back to School

A Handbook for Learning Anything

Kio Stark

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EducationPersonal Development

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Don’t Go Back to School
Decline of Traditional College+
Power of Independent Learning+
Utilizing Academic Resources+
Community and Collaboration+
Navigating the Job Market+
The Workplace as Classroom+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
Why does the author argue that getting a college degree is no longer a 'safe path' to financial security?
  • A. Most modern jobs require technical certifications instead of traditional university degrees.
  • B. High competition, rising education costs, and generally low wages make repaying student debt difficult.
  • C. The government has stopped subsidizing higher education entirely, making it impossible to afford.
  • D. Employers have completely stopped looking at degrees when hiring new employees.
Question 2 of 8
According to the text, why have Massive Open Online Classes (MOOCs) largely been unsuccessful in reforming education?
  • A. They are too expensive for the average independent learner to afford.
  • B. They lack the technological infrastructure to support millions of students.
  • C. They simply replicate the flawed systems of traditional schools, such as grades and tests.
  • D. They focus too much on intrinsic motivation rather than external rewards.
Question 3 of 8
Why does the author suggest that independent learners shouldn't completely do away with traditional schools just yet?
  • A. Independent learners still rely heavily on the materials and research produced by universities.
  • B. Schools are the only places where independent learners can legally obtain scientific journals.
  • C. Traditional schools provide the only valid certifications recognized by major corporations.
  • D. Most independent learners eventually need to transfer their credits to a university to graduate.
Question 4 of 8
Why is presenting knowledge to others considered a fundamental part of successful independent learning?
  • A. It is the only way to build a professional portfolio for future employers.
  • B. It allows you to test and enrich your own knowledge while gaining a sense of achievement.
  • C. It replaces the need for hands-on experience in a real-world context.
  • D. It proves to academic institutions that you have mastered the subject matter.
Question 5 of 8
What is the primary benefit of learning in a 'real-life context' as an independent learner?
  • A. It ensures that you will not experience failure or frustration during the learning process.
  • B. It provides a structured curriculum that mimics the best aspects of traditional schooling.
  • C. It makes the consequences of learning real, which leads to greater motivation and better retention.
  • D. It guarantees that you will immediately find a high-paying job in your chosen field.
Question 6 of 8
How did Quinn Norton demonstrate 'chutzpah' in her career?
  • A. She launched a successful robotics business without any funding.
  • B. She convinced 13,000 researchers to go on strike and withhold their work from journals.
  • C. She became a high school computer teacher despite not having a high school diploma herself.
  • D. She created an alternative business network based on mutual improvement.
Question 7 of 8
What unconventional method did software engineer Zack Booth Simpson use to learn without paying college tuition?
  • A. He audited massive open online classes (MOOCs) under a pseudonym.
  • B. He invited professors to lunch to ask them questions and read textbooks.
  • C. He joined an underground network of autodidacts who shared pirated academic journals.
  • D. He applied for entry-level university administration jobs to get free access to the library.
Question 8 of 8
Why does the text argue that small companies are often the best places to learn on the job?
  • A. They have larger training budgets than massive corporations.
  • B. They give employees more leeway to try new things and see the direct results of their influence.
  • C. They are more likely to hire people with traditional degrees, ensuring a smarter workforce.
  • D. They provide a stress-free environment where failure has no negative consequences.

Don’t Go Back to School — Full Chapter Overview

Don’t Go Back to School Summary & Overview

Don’t Go Back to School shows how not having a degree doesn’t doom you to an unsuccessful life. In fact, quite the contrary: chalked full of real-life examples, this book presents a strong case for independent learning as well as principles you can immediately enact to make independent learning a part of your life.

Who Should Listen to Don’t Go Back to School?

  • Anyone interested in learning outside of school
  • Anyone who wants to improve his or her knowledge and skills without breaking the bank
  • Anyone on the fence about whether to spend the money to go to college or university

About the Author: Kio Stark

Kio Stark is a writer and adjunct professor at New York University’s graduate Interactive Telecommunications Program. In addition to conducting active research on learning and teaching she has also published a novel entitled Follow Me Down.

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