Running Head: EVALUATING MY PATH TO BEING A SELF DIRECTED LEARNER

Evaluating My Path To Being A Self Directed Learner

University of the People

UNIV 1001 Online Education Strategies - Term 3, 2019-2020

Nicole Khoury

03-04-2020
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Evaluating My Path to Being A Self-Directed Learner

Self-directed learning is a process of learning in which student is in charge of their learning

processes. This process usually involves the evaluation of their learning needs, formulating

learning goals, identifying their learning resources (both human and materials), and an

assessment of the learning outcome. (Wilcox, 1996)

This approach of learning is quite significant because of the level of accountability it delivers to

the student, as the students are in the control wheel of their learning process.

Some significant advantage of this process is that the student becomes an active participant in

their learning process, not merely following a curriculum that they had no input into its

development and this approach of learning makes the student appreciate the learning process.

Therefore, a self-directed learner is one who can independently facilitate and manage their

learning and continuous growth process. A self-directed learner can determine what they wish to

learn and can take the necessary steps in ensuring they learn it.

Some essential aspects of self-directed learning include:

Firstly, the student has to determine their learning needs, identifying how they would learn,

accounting for various constraints and factors that require some consideration for in their

learning process.

Secondly, defining the learning goals makes the learning process measurable. The process

involves the learner and the instructor working together to develop the plan for the learning

process. This goal helps guide the student towards more productive learning, as well as a clarity

of their learning outcomes.

Thirdly, the student has the responsibility of actually doing the learning; This involves the

acquisition of learning materials and taking advantage of the learning facilities

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Finally, feedback and the evaluation of the learning goals and other outcomes makes the learning

process more manageable and understandable to the student.

As a student, I have found that I am mainly very autonomous and have a high level of curiosity.

This unique combination of strengths would enable me to become better at self-directed learning

because, with these, I can quickly determine what I need to learn and work on a plan to learn,

even despite many challenging factors.

A major weakness that I have is poor time management skills, which mainly makes it

challenging to be able to stick to my learning schedules.

Some strategies I would be using to become a better self-directed learner and to hold myself

accountable include:

Firstly, I would be writing about what I have learned. Earlier this year, I began writing a weekly

blog post, consisting of both past and new knowledge. This approach has helped me become

more knowledgeable in the fields that I have written about. Also, being able to share my

knowledge of these fields has helped me gather better feedback as to where I needed to improve

my understanding.

Secondly, I would work on finding a learning buddy/accountability partner. I found this

approach had worked for me in the past when I needed to learn some new technologies, and the

presence of a learning buddy helped make the learning process not look lonely.

Finally, I would be applying the knowledge of what I have learned immediately. This point is

particularly important because coming from the topic of last week, Critical Thinking, I realized

that the best way to master a skill is by applying the skill.

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References

Wilcox, S. (1996, June). FOSTERING SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING IN THE UNIVERSITY

SETTING. Retrieved March 4, 2020, from

http://web.mit.edu/jrankin/www/self_direct/self_dir_univ1.html

Self-Directed Learning: A Four-Step Process. (2019, March 4). Retrieved March 4, 2020, from

https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/tips-

students/self-directed-learning/self-directed-learning-four-step-process

Briggs, S. (2015, May 3). 20 Steps Towards More Self-Directed Learning. Retrieved March 4,

2020, from https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/29-steps-toward-more-

self-directed-learning/

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