Learning Inside, Outside, and Beyond the Box
As the founder of enduri, a former teacher, and an education journalist, I’ve observed how education often confines learners within rigid structures – the proverbial “box” of standardised teaching. This box represents traditional methods, fixed learning paths, and a one-size-fits-all approach. But what if, instead of conforming everyone to the same box, we embraced individualised learning strategies that empower each student to succeed on their own term?
Why Boxes Matter in Education
Boxes can be helpful. They provide structure, a predictable framework, a place to start. Teachers rely on them to keep lessons in check; students lean on them for consistency. However, too much structure, and the box stops being a foundation—it becomes a trap. Stepping outside it, you might find creativity, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of learning itself. The trick is knowing when to use the box and when to set it aside.
Let’s explore what it means to think inside, outside, and beyond the box – and why individualised learning strategies are the key to unlocking student success.
The Teacher’s Box: How to Expand It
Why Teachers Need to Rethink Learning Approaches
For teachers, the “box” often manifests as a rigid curriculum dictating what must be taught, when, and how. The box loves structure, standardised testing, and uniformity. But here’s the thing – students don’t learn uniformly. Learning strategies, if they even make it into the classroom, are often an afterthought rather than a priority (1).
Does this mean teachers should discard the box entirely? Not necessarily. Structure is useful. However, the best educators find ways to push against those walls, making space for something bigger. A curriculum might not explicitly mention learning strategies, but teachers can embed them anyway – encouraging students to reflect on how they learn, experiment with different approaches, and develop techniques that work beyond the confines of the classroom.
Making Room for individual Learning Strategies
The challenge, of course, is time. Teachers are already stretched thin, expected to cover vast amounts of content while managing increasingly diverse classrooms. This is where enduri comes in – not as another task to squeeze into an already packed schedule, but as a tool that helps students take charge of their own learning, exploring research-backed strategies at their own pace (2). Because if education insists on keeping teachers inside a box, we might as well punch some breathing holes in it.
The Student’s Box: Stop Letting Others Define Your Learning
Forget Learning Styles – You Are Not Just One Type of Learner
Students are constantly boxed in, labeled, categorised: visual learner, auditory learner, good at math, bad at writing. But here’s the truth – learning isn’t fixed. No one remains just one type of learner forever. The best learners? They’re the ones who test different strategies, adapt when something isn’t working, and aren’t afraid to fail along the way (3).
Some students thrive on structured study schedules, while others learn best by discussing ideas aloud or moving while working. Some need complete silence; others focus better with background noise. The key isn’t finding the “right” method and sticking with it forever – it’s about figuring out what works now, adjusting as needed, and staying open to new approaches.
Adapt, Experiment, and Own Your Learning Process
And sometimes, the best learning moments come when you least expect them – like a Jack-in-the-Box. You crank the handle, follow the routine, and suddenly – POP! A surprise. Be your own Jack-in-the-Box learner. Dare to jump, have fun, and surprise yourself and others. Learning is supposed to be unpredictable. Embrace it.
This is exactly what enduri is built for. It’s not about choosing a label and staying inside that particular box—it’s about discovering, testing, and refining learning strategies in a way that makes sense for each individual student. Because the most successful learners aren’t the ones who were told they were good at something—they’re the ones who learned how to learn.
Boxes Can Be Helpful – Until They’re Not
Structure vs. Limitation: The Fine Line in Learning
Let’s not vilify the box entirely. Sometimes, it serves a purpose. A structured approach provides stability, creates efficiency, and prevents the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start. There’s comfort in knowing what’s expected.
However, at some point, the box starts getting in the way. Too much structure, and creativity evaporates. Sticking to only one method risks missing out on something that could work even better. If learning strategies aren’t flexible, they stop being strategies and start being limitations (4).
When to Use the Box, When to Break It
So, what’s the answer? Don’t destroy the box – customise it. Add windows, doors, secret passageways. Make it something that can expand, contract, or reshape itself based on what’s needed in the moment. Because the best kind of learning box isn’t one you’re trapped inside – it’s one you can move around in.
Don’t destroy the box—customise it. Add windows, doors, secret passageways. Make it something that can expand, contract, or reshape itself based on what’s needed in the moment.
How enduri Breaks the Curriculum Closet
Independent of Subject, Tailored to the Learner
Here’s the thing: enduri doesn’t fit inside any content box or curriculum closet. It’s not tied to one subject, one method, or one type of learner. Instead, it’s built on the idea that learning is deeply personal and that students should have control over their own learning strategies (5).
For students who feel like education isn’t designed for them, enduri offers an alternative: a learning experience that adapts to their strengths, not the other way around.
Expand Your Learning with Personalised Strategies
Learning at your own speed is a game changer. Some students need time to digest new information, while others fly through topics at lightning speed. enduri adapts to both. It recognises that no two learners are the same, shaping learning journeys around individual needs and strengths. With Learner ID, students gain insight into their own strengths and challenges, helping them refine their personal strategies. But even the best learners need support. Growth isn’t just about effort; it’s about having the right encouragement, knowledge, and tools. That’s why enduri offers coaching, learning insights, and motivational nudges—because sometimes, all it takes is a little push to unlock potential.
Conclusion: Build a Learning Box That Works for You
When the Box Becomes a Limitation
Limitations for one learner can be freedom for another. Understanding learning strategies means recognising when structure is useful and when it holds us back. For neurodiverse learners, traditional learning boxes can be too rigid, failing to accommodate different thinking styles. But redefining the box—expanding and reshaping it – creates space for real learning growth.
Forget Fixed Learning – Create Your Own Approach
So the problem isn’t the box itself – it’s how we use it. For some, it’s a starting point; for others, it’s a restriction. The key is knowing when to stay in, when to step out, and when to break through.
So here’s my challenge to you: Think about your own learning. Are you stuck in a box that’s too small? Are you avoiding structure that could actually help? Whatever the case, you control your learning, not the other way around.
And if you’re ready to experiment, explore, and build a better learning strategy? Join enduri today
Sources:
1. Carol McDonald Connor – Research on individualized student instruction. Read more
2. Adaptive Learning – How AI-driven education tailors learning experiences. Read more
3. Twice Exceptional (2e) Learners – Gifted students with learning differences. . Read more
4. The Protégé Effect – Teaching others to improve learning retention. Read more
5. The Role of Personalization in Student Success – Studies on tailored learning approaches. Read more
