Wikipedia defines it as:
“Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) or self-education is self-directed learning that is related to but different from informal learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is “learning on your own” or “by yourself”, and an autodidact is a self-teacher.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodidacticism
I prefer the Merriam Webster definition – Much more Simple:
“a self-taught person”
Well, if you do mind learning for the sake of learning, not getting college credit – BUT – NOT SHELLING OUT RIDICULOUS amounts of money on a wasted degree – well you can practically go to college for free online:
Great for providing STEM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and humanities-themed education. Ideal for enhancing, supplementing any curriculum. Free-thinking and critical-thinking is encouraged.
Academic Earth
YouTube EDU
http://www.youtube.com/education
The Einztein Knowledge Network
Khan Academy
Open Culture
Good Lectures
http://academicearth.org/lectures/muscular-system-1
http://academicearth.org/lectures/evolution-emotion-and-reason-emotions-1
http://academicearth.org/lectures/morality-of-murder-and-cannibalism
http://research.microsoft.com/apps/tools/tuva/index.html
http://khanexercises.appspot.com/video?v=cc8sUv2SuaY
Yes again, you can practically go to college for free online.
Nerdodamus 