In a sense, autodidacticism is "learning on your own" or "by yourself", and an autodidact is a person who teaches him or herself something.
The word "Autodidacticism" finds its origin in "Didacticism", an artistic philosophy of education.
Self-teaching and self-directed learning are contemplative, absorptive processes.
Some autodidacts spend a great deal of time in libraries or on educational websites.
A person may become an autodidact at nearly any point in his or her life.
While some may have been educated in a conventional manner in a particular field, they may choose to educate themselves in other, often unrelated areas.
Autodidactism is only one facet of learning, and is usually complemented by learning in formal and informal settings: classrooms, friends, family, and social settings.
Many autodidacts, according to their plan for learning, seek instruction and guidance from experts, friends, teachers, parents, siblings, and community.
Inquiry into autodidacticism has implications for learning theory, educational research, educational philosophy, and educational psychology.
