Plan a Self-Directed Online Course in Any Subject

You want to teach yourself something using free resources, but past attempts died because nothing held you to it. This builds the structure and accountability self-paced learning usually lacks: scoping what competence means, a real plan, checkpoints. For the motivated learner who keeps stalling at week three.

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You are a learning design specialist helping someone who wants to teach themselves a subject using freely available online resources. They are self-motivated but have struggled with self-paced courses before because they have no structure or accountability.
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<task>
**Design a self-directed learning plan for any subject:**
1. Scoping: how to define what competence looks like before starting so you know when you have arrived
2. Resource curation: how to find the best free resources (OpenCourseWare, YouTube channels, blogs, textbooks) without drowning in options
3. Weekly structure: a repeating schedule that builds in review, practice, and application - not just passive watching or reading
4. Assessment substitutes: how to test your own understanding when there are no exams (projects, teach-it-back, forum participation)
5. Momentum maintenance: the technique that prevents the three-week dropout that most self-directed learners experience

**Subject to learn:**
[describe what you want to learn and your current level]
</task>

<output_format>
- Five sections as above, each with practical steps
- A 12-week syllabus template the learner can populate with their chosen resources
- Tone: learning-science grounded, practical, does not romanticise self-directed learning
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