Student voice and choice - Concepts and definition

🔅WHAT IS SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING (SDL)?

Consider the last time you decided to learn something new. Maybe you were driven by a need or a desire to do something. Maybe you were tired of buying bread and wanted to make it from scratch. Without taking a formal course, you can read a book, download a recipe, or ask someone; you had an intrinsic motivation driving your learning process. This is precisely what self-directed learning is.

In 1975, adult educator Malcolm S. Knowles defined the process in a way we can still relate to today:

“Self-directed learning describes a process in which individuals take the initiative, with or without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identifying human and material resources for learning, choosing and implementing appropriate learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes.”

Similarly, this process can be applied to learners who take control of the learning process, meaning it is learner-centred. It encourages learners to ask questions, explore ideas, and collaborate with others to build their understanding of the content. The development of this skill develops lifelong learners.

❗However, it does not mean self-directed learning is done without the teacher. The teacher is still the facilitator of the learning. The role of the teacher is to develop self-directed learning skills.

🔅WHY SHOULD WE USE SDL in the CLASSROOM?

Learning should be a lifelong skill. We want our learners to want to learn. In other words, they should be driven by intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation. Test results primarily drive extrinsic motivation.

SDL fosters students' autonomy, responsibility, and independence, encouraging them to take charge of their learning process. As educators, incorporating self-directed learning into our teaching practices can significantly enhance the learning experiences of our students. Here's why:

🔅WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SELF-DIRECTED LEARNER?

What are the characteristics of a self-directed learner? In this video, the different levels of learner development are explained. The final level, Stage 4, is the self-directed learner. While watching the video (2m35s), gauge the level of your learners.

Levels of Self directed Learning

On average, most of our learners still fall within levels 1 and 2. However, Self-Directed Learning can help to promote future-focused skills - collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity, and drive intrinsic motivation. More than developing these skills, SDL promotes student voice and choice, a cornerstone principle of SDL.

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