This chapter presents findings from an exploratory case study, conducted in 2018 and 2019, that focused on the investigation of Free Learning at International College Hong Kong Secondary. Free Learning is one of the school-based curricular practices that can be considered an act of resistance against educational discourses centred around the learnification of education, which often implies an increase in learning freedom for students and a decrease in significance and value of the teacher role. The study explored the roles of teacher and student in Free Learning: to what extent Free Learning has an effect on both and how the student-teacher relationship is reconsidered. Data were collected and analysed through semi-structured interviews, observations and questionnaires, an analytical framework based on the school’s Approaches to Learning and the International Baccalaureate Standards and Practices. Additionally, Biesta’s (2009) work on the purposes of education and Foucault’s (1982) concept of “technologies of the self” were used as a theoretical lens. Findings show that the Free Learning approach allows for a student-teacher relationship that is reciprocal and that is neither focused on outcomes nor performance. These findings are discussed and framed, and suggestions are made for adoption and further research of Free Learning in different educational settings. Copyright © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Ross Parker, David Coniam and Peter Falvey; individual chapters, the contributors.

This chapter describes how Free Learning was adopted at the Education University of Hong Kong in a course which is part of the bachelor of education – Minor in Teaching and Learning in International Schools, a pre-service teacher education programme. The decision to adopt Free Learning at university level since January 2019 was the result of positive findings of a case study at International College Hong Kong in 2018 and the promises Free Learning seemed to hold for wider application (see Chapter 13 this volume). The rationale, description and evaluation of the adoption process of Free Learning in this chapter is given with the purpose of getting tertiary educators to consider their thinking about the why and how of innovative practices and to connect their courses to a complex and crisis-ridden world. The chapter emphasises the importance of developing students as responsible and thoughtful individuals and also how Free Learning – with this in mind – could be considered in different contexts. Copyright © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Ross Parker, David Coniam and Peter Falvey; individual chapters, the contributors.