Self-Directed Learning
What are some ways to introduce more self-directed learning activities into the classroom environment?
Gary,
Try to find assignments that offer students control and choice. Give options to students so that they may select how to best master the objectives.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Self directed learning is advantageous because the learns police themselves and often have internal motives that can further their goals. Allowing them to work on real work applications or case studies are interesting ways to achieve this.
Anthony,
These are keys for adults. The challenge can come when students first experience this type of academic responsibility as they may be used to being told exactly what to do and how to do it.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I am a student and an instructor at the same time.
It took me sometime to pursue my degree in education. Obviously because of time. I am a good example of self directed learning student. I pursue my career on-line. It helps me a lot. I could manage my time: being an instructor, a student, a mother and a wife is not a big deal. But I found out there is an disadvantage. If you need to clarify on such topic you can't get answer quickly.
Antonette,
It is clear you have been able to make a lot of good decisions while balancing your many important roles. Please explain the "disadvantage" you reference in this post. Thanks.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I hope I'm understanding "self-directed learning correctly. I am an externship instructor in which (I think) the student is self-directing their final class by working in the industry and meeting specific criteria to pass the class. For the first time, they are allowed to be in the work force (a business they've specifically selected for themselves) and must turn in homework by a particular deadlines; however the contents are "reflective".
This self-directed learning usually works well for the mature student, but the younger ones that are use to being more directly "guided" find it difficult to manage their time & responsibilities.
I think this a good exercise in preparing them for the personal decisions they will make for the rest of their lives and hopefully develop sense of responsibility to see the outcomes of their actions & decisions.
I teach art and design and one of the best self directed learning activities I have in my classroom would be critique of other students. I often tell the students that the better the critique you give the better your will learn about your own art because if you can pick apart other works, you can start to see your own mistakes. I make the students give honest and blunt critiques to the other students and make sure the feedback is about the art, not the student.
Richard,
Thanks for sharing this. I have seen similar approaches in writing courses wherein students are required to complete peer reviews. This also works well in speech courses as it requires students to listen to their classmates. When I teach speech, 40% of the grade for a speech is the review of other speakers.
Jeffrey Schillinger
