What is Self-Directed What is Self-Directed Learning?Learning?

The process of learning in which The process of learning in which the learner assumes primary the learner assumes primary responsibility for planning, responsibility for planning, implementing, and evaluating a implementing, and evaluating a learning project. The learner learning project. The learner chooses what to learn and how to chooses what to learn and how to learn, and also decides when to learn, and also decides when to continue and when to end the continue and when to end the learning project.learning project.

Why study SDL?Why study SDL?

By studying these individuals, By studying these individuals, the researcher can "isolate the the researcher can "isolate the influence of the formal influence of the formal teaching environments on teaching environments on learning and thus permit the learning and thus permit the adult to be studied when adult to be studied when he/she learns in a naturalistic he/she learns in a naturalistic and spontaneous fashion." and spontaneous fashion." (Danis & Tremblay)(Danis & Tremblay)

Goals of SDLGoals of SDL

Enhance ability of adults Enhance ability of adults to be more self-directed in to be more self-directed in learninglearning (humanistic (humanistic approach)approach)

Foster transformational Foster transformational learning learning

Promote social actionPromote social action

Enhance ability to be Enhance ability to be more self-directedmore self-directed

Adult learners need to develop Adult learners need to develop both both skills skills and and attributesattributes in in SDL. (Knowles, Tough, SDL. (Knowles, Tough, Hiemstra, Brockett, Hiemstra, Brockett, Caffarella/O’Donnell)Caffarella/O’Donnell)

Job of educators of adults is to Job of educators of adults is to help individuals be able to better help individuals be able to better plan, carry out, and evaluate plan, carry out, and evaluate their own learning.their own learning.

Foster Transformational Foster Transformational Learning…Learning…

Mezirow: Mezirow: “…there is probably no “…there is probably no such thing as a self-directed such thing as a self-directed learner, except in the sense that learner, except in the sense that there is a learner who can there is a learner who can participate fully and freely in the participate fully and freely in the dialogue through which we test our dialogue through which we test our interests and perspectives against interests and perspectives against those of others and accordingly those of others and accordingly modify them and our learning modify them and our learning goals.”goals.”

Foster Transformational Foster Transformational Learning…Learning…

Brookfield: “…the most Brookfield: “…the most complete form of self-complete form of self-directed learning occurs directed learning occurs when process and reflection when process and reflection are married in the adult’s are married in the adult’s pursuit of meaning.”pursuit of meaning.”

Main Areas of Research Main Areas of Research into SDLinto SDL

Self-directed learning as:Self-directed learning as:a learning process a learning process a personality aspecta personality aspect