Question

Weekly Discussion write your initial discussion (at least 400-500 words).

Self Directed Learning. Do you think SDL is a good approach for the future? Why or why not? How do professionals in your field attain needed self assessment for SDL? How have you experienced this approach yourself? What are some specific challenges with SDL including motivation, learning styles and technology?

Answer 1

Self-Directed Learning

Self-directed learning is all about initiative. As a self-directed learner, you take responsibility for identifying your own learning needs, coming up with goals, finding the right resources, and monitoring your progress. The concept is much more flexible than simply cherry-picking one or two courses from a set curriculum, as we are used to doing in school.

There is strong research to support the benefits of self-directed learning. If we are taught to pursue our interests at a young age, it builds our self-confidence, as well as our ability to persevere with projects and use our initiative. We naturally gain satisfaction from improving our knowledge of subjects we genuinely enjoy. The problem with regular schooling is that it has a tendency to fixate around ‘traditional’ subjects, failing to factor in the ever-widening range of interests a person might have, from coding to carpentry.

Teaching Strategies in SDL

While the student is responsible for most of the SDL process, teachers still have a role to play in this learning environment. Before students become self-directed learners, teachers must do several things. They first must assess whether or not students are ready to undertake self-directed learning. They also need to find out students' daily needs and interests, and design lesson plans and assignments that relate to those aspects of students' lives, therefore making learning relevant and enjoyable for the students. They should encourage students to become independent and take responsibility for their learning, while remaining available to help and support the students. They should also ensure students understand the importance of reflection and the self-evaluation process. Finally teachers should be available to discuss the end results with students, either individually or as a class-wide discussion.

Components of SDL

There are quite a few components involved in self-directed learning. We'll now take a look at each of them in detail.

(i) Management and Monitoring

The first component is management and monitoring. With guidance from the teacher, students define the learning goals they wish to accomplish as well as negotiate a time frame for completion. Once they are established, students identify their strengths and weaknesses as well as any obstacles to achieving their goals. The teacher takes on a supporting and advising role while students manage their own learning process and monitor their own progress.

(ii) Assessing Learning Needs

The second component is assessing learning needs. Students assess their needs as they progress through the learning process. They will need to find out what resources they need, either materials, help from the teacher, or a combination of both. Teachers will then provide support to help them obtain those resources.

(iii) Collaboration

Collaboration is the third component. Ironic as this component may sound, it is a very important part of the students' learning process in self-directed learning. Students collaborate with other students in their class, students in other grades, or even adults out in the community to gain knowledge and experience and reach their learning objectives.

(iv) Self-Evaluation

The final component is self-evaluation. After students have gone through the process and have finished the assignment, students should reflect and evaluate their results. Students should get input from other students as well as the teacher to find areas that may need improvement.

The pros and cons of self-directed learning

One of the most satisfying benefits is that you get to choose what (and how) you learn. It helps you get to know your own personal learning style, whether that’s reading, watching, doing, etc. And with pursuing true interests comes genuine enjoyment, allowing you to embrace the pleasure of learning on your own terms.

One of the best things about self-directed learning is the focus on learning for learning’s sake, rather than critical evaluation and assessment. Learning under pressure vs. learning for enjoyment are two very different experiences. Rather than being led by results, you are instead free to follow your curiosity. This in itself is very empowering.

Of course, there are also challenges associated with taking the responsibility of learning upon yourself. Self-directed learning still requires hard work, whichever way you look at it. Many of us put off taking learning upon ourselves, believing we are not smart or self-motivated enough. But this negative mindset only holds us back.

How to become a successful self-directed learner

Each of us has something we’d like to learn or be better at, whether it’s music, languages, cooking, sport, or crafts. Yet for many of us, these things we’d love to try somehow never make it onto our to-do lists. Because without the right system in place to make self-directed learning a habit, life somehow carries on unchanged. So, it’s time for budding entrepreneurs to embrace the concept of lifelong learning.

Here are some tips to help you incorporate self-directed learning into your life:

1.Choose one topic at a time and give it your full focus
2.Choose topics that genuinely interest you
3. Be specific with your goals. Instead of ‘learn to play the guitar’, try ‘learn to play Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay on guitar’
4.Give each lesson or task a deadline for completion
5.Break your tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks
6.Tackle the most difficult tasks first, rather than avoiding them
7. Be ready to evaluate and alter your goals as required

Conclusion

In my experience Self-Directed Study is a well-established education tool, however, certain criteria are required to optimise the benefits. Now a days students lack its apperception, which is probably related to pre-college teaching system. I suggest faculty members development will create cognization and inure students with DSL.