5 Ways to Encourage Self-Directed Learning

Self-directed learning is the best approach to life-long attainment of knowledge. If you’re considering it to traditional learning methods, this article gives an excellent overview of the processes it entails to encourage the best results in learning.

Imagine a situation where you’re an average student, and the opportunities accorded to you cannot change your situation. Do you throw in the towel and declare education a no-go zone for you, or do you try to learn about things that can potentially change your situation or others for the better? Unfortunately, not everyone realizes that they have the power to change their futures.

On the flip side, though, the power lies within us all to learn about things that would change our situations and the environment around us for the better. Self-directed learning is the process through which individuals push themselves to realize their needs in learning with or without others’ help. 

They will then develop their own learning goals while identifying materials that can aid them throughout the learning process. In today’s’ world, where technology is rapidly taking over, there is a need to continually re-skill and learn about new ways of doing things. It is essential to re-learn things we previously knew and discover them deeper. 

When you develop self-directed learning strategies to change a situation where you need to learn new skills, you put yourself ahead of those who only rely on traditional learning methods. Today’s world is set up in a way where self-directed learning skills are necessary, but essential to career, social, and even self-development. 

 In a world where self-directed learning activities are encouraged, and learning tools are many, it makes sense that one takes advantage of all the self-directed learning methods available. Any student who wants to succeed in their learning experience should have a self-directed learning plan that’ll help them bridge gaps that they’re facing in their journey to attaining knowledge.  

We must encourage this type of learning for all learners. Here are a few tips on how to do it.

 

Determine the Willingness to Learn

Self-directed learning challenges exist. A student will find self-directed learning much easier if they can get self-directed learning examples and conduct a thorough assessment of various factors. These include their attitude, skills, habits, and even their support network and how these factors will contribute towards their success in self-directed learning. 

Before students engage in self-development, they must look at any past experiences they’ve had in the past with self-learning. This will play a huge role in developing self-directed strategies that’ll allow them to have a constructive process. 

Some of the most important aspects or skills to evaluate for a student include their organization, self-discipline, experience with self-directed learning, and how well they take constructive criticism. A student looking to engage in self-directed learning is encouraged to embrace being autonomous and practice excellent communication.

 

Identifying Self-directed Learning Objectives

While encouraging a student to take up self-directional learning, the student must learn how to communicate effectively. This is a necessary skill to learn as they’ll have to develop a relationship with an instructor. When communication skills come into play in self-directed learning, both sides have to understand what expectations are required. 

 The instructor supervising the student should have a clear view of the self-directed learning goals the student has. Likewise, the student must have access to the contractor’s self-directed learning contract. Understanding each other ensures that both parties are privy to what is expected from each one of them.

 

Learn More About Yourself and the Process

There are many self-directed learning benefits a student will reap if they understand their needs for self-directed learning. As learners, one must understand the gaps they need to fill and how their approach to self-directed learning will help them fill these needs. 

Self-directed learning requires the student’s total transformation because they’re required to learn new ideas and understand them on their own. Self-directed learning will require more in-depth knowledge than traditional education, where a student is only required to learn what is taught to them to complete a course. 

In self-directed learning, a student is required to motivate themselves and dig deeper into their studying to bridge their gaps. It is, therefore, essential to develop an in-depth approach to self-directed learning. 

 

Evaluate the Learning Process

In self-directed learning, students must learn to self-evaluate and self-reflect continually. This is to assess their progress and how their learning goals are coming along during self-directed learning. Some of the processes students of self-directed learning will need to engage in include:

– Regular consultation and assessments with their instructor while implementing feedback received.

– Reflection of the aspects learned during the self-directed learning process and evaluating the essential questions concerning the learning process. 

 

Share and Apply What You’ve Learnt

 

There’s no point in self-directed learning if you’re going to hoard what you’ve learned and kept it to yourself. The best way to learn something more profound is to teach it. It’s therefore essential that after you’ve learned and finished your unit, you share the information you’ve gained with your mentors and peers.  

Sharing what you learn in self-directed learning is essential, as it’ll help you discover other aspects you hadn’t thought of. Ultimately, you’ll create something positive for you and your community or environment out of your self-directed learning experience. 

Once you start to practice the things you’ve learned on your self-directed learning journey, you can now create opportunities for yourself that never existed before. 

 

Conclusion

Self-directed learning isn’t an experience or process for faint-hearted students. It’s a journey that requires patience, a strong will, a willingness to learn, self-motivation, and strategies that’ll get you to where your goals are. 

It would be best if you valued the progress you’re making over performance. Self-directed learning is a life-long process that one can’t accomplish if they value performance overdevelopment or in-depth knowledge.  

Have you considered self-directed learning as an alternative method of learning? If you have, what has been your experience? How did you overcome the challenges that come with self-directed learning? Tell us your experiences in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.

 

Author’s Bio:

Sherry is a consultant and been involved in many successful projects with a range of companies throughout the country. She enjoys researching, discussing, and writing on the topics of relationships on the best dating sites 2020, when not absorbed in the latest gripping articles. Sherry loves cooking, doing sports, and otherwise spends far much time at the computer.