I see the potential created by not only allowing for self directed learning but by actively encouraging it, 'holding lightly'. To encourage creativity we as educators need to create tension between the control and chaos. Balance (and often patience) is key.
This type of approach may not work for all learners from various cultures and mindsets as it requires the learner to embrace a certain degree of responsibility and opportunity. However majority of the individuals I work with are adult learners in sustainable practice that I facilitate through a process of discovery and hopefully through a mental shift. Majority of the time these learners merely require some light guidance and the chaos creates a certain degree of excitement in treading unknown territory. My perception is that if I did hold on too tightly they would never challenge their thinking and things would their thinking would remain the same, constrained by unsustainable mental models.
