An Action Learning Set for Teenagers

A six-month pilot project for self-directed young people (ages 13–16)

A small, supportive space for teenagers to reflect on their learning, share progress, explore challenges, and grow together. Each week, we meet to think deeply, ask great questions, and help one another move forward with our learning plans.

What It Is

A facilitated weekly reflection group for self-directed teenagers.

We meet once a week in a small group with an experienced facilitator. Each session helps young people:

• Reflect on their week’s learning and progress

• Receive feedback and encouragement from peers

• Set clear intentions for the week ahead

• Explore challenges in a supportive, questioning environment

The group is designed to build habits of self-reflection, peer learning, and authentic connection.

How It Works

The group includes:

• 4 self-directed teenagers (ages 13–16)

• 1 experienced facilitator — someone who has worked for years supporting young people to develop and reflect on their learning plans

Each week:

• Everyone shares a brief reflection on their progress and next steps

• One or two people bring a specific challenge to explore with the group

The Group Process

When someone shares a challenge, the group supports them by:

• Asking open, curious, and challenging questions

• Listening carefully before offering advice

• Sharing reflections, resources, or ideas — only if invited

This process builds a culture of mutual respect, curiosity, and thoughtful feedback, where young people learn from each other as much as from the facilitator.

Before We Begin

Before the first group session, each participant will have a one-hour individual meeting with the facilitator to co-create a 12-week learning plan.

Together, we’ll explore:

• Past interests and current motivations

• Future goals and directions

• What success means to them

• Ways to measure progress that feel personal and achievable

Session Structure

Week 1: Sharing & Listening

Each participant shares their learning plan (up to 30 minutes each), explaining what they want to explore over the next twelve weeks and why.

The group listens, asks questions, and gets to know not just each other’s projects — but each other as people.,

This lays the foundation for meaningful feedback and connection.

Weeks 2 -13: Action Learning Set (2 hours each)

• Each young person gets 15 minutes to share and reflect on their week.

• Two people each week go deeper, sharing a specific problem or challenge they’re facing.

Each participant gets to explore a challenge in depth every two weeks, supporting an ongoing cycle of reflection, intention, and action.

A small private Discord channel helps everyone stay connected and continue conversations between sessions.

What’s an Action Learning Set?

An action learning set is a small group that meets regularly to help each other think through real challenges. One person shares a problem they’re facing, while the others ask open questions to help them reflect and find their own answers — rather than jumping in with advice. It’s a structured way of learning from experience, building confidence, and developing self-direction together.

The 13 Week Cycle

After 13 weeks, the cycle begins again:

• New or refined learning plans (with one-to-one sessions)

• A fresh sharing and listening session

• Another 12 weeks of action learning sets

This rhythm helps young people develop long-term habits of reflection, peer support, and self-directed growth.

Pilot Project Details

This is a free six-month pilot offered to four self-directed teenagers.
Spaces are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to families from the global majority.

About the Facilitator

I’ve been involved in self-directed learning spaces for over five years. I co-founded, developed and honed a learning programme for self-directed home educated tweens and teens whilst at The Garden. Over those three years I blended the best tools of self-managed learning and agile learning, and created some of my own in order to develop a methodology for helping young people aged ten and over evaluate their life holistically, tap into desire, create a roadmap to action, evaluate where, how and what success will look like, and then through weekly meetings of intention-reflection cycles to take steps towards those goals.