Developing Self-Directed Learners
Understanding how to develop truly self-directed learners is a series of intentional strategies. Let’s collaborate on what those should be: moving students from dependent to independent learners - which strategies actually work? Share actual resources and examples from your own teaching practice.
I think it would be helpful to share ideas on how you have seen success with your students becoming more independent and self-motivated as learners. Have you experienced your students taking control of their own learning process? If so, what did you do to facilitate that?
What are the differences between guided practise and learner autonomy? Can the former result in the latter?
What are the various types and modes of blended delivery that you have seen, experienced, or delivered for your students? Check out this 2012 resource on blended delivery options:
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2011/09/30/meeting-in-the-middle-with-blended-learning/
I am teaching mathematics in the associate program and generally speaking, some of the students lack study skills to get themselves self-directed and as you can see on their computation, their thoughts are all over and lack structure. It is one of my objectives to instill organization in their thinking process. In the topic of proportion, the structure of this equation can be employed to find the solution to a missing value, percent problem solution including but not limited to simple interest, commission, tip, sales tax, discount, edible yield, discount, how to convert recipe either upsize or downsize, and many more. The students must realize the need to structure their thinking style in an orderly and organized solution system, an important aspect in problem solving to visualize the process. I give them a proper framework that may give them self-direction to succeed further.
Hi Teresita,
Great examples of some of the challenges in developing strong and independent thinkers. I do believe we can construct "thinking" environments within which students have to not only problem solve existing material, but think new thoughts of innovation and design whatever the content area. This has been called "knowledge building" by some theorists and it would be interesting for you to research this further. Try looking into work by Marlene Scardamalia and Carl Bareiter. They have worked on knowledge building learning environments for many years.
Here's a starting point:
http://lcp.cite.hku.hk/resources/KBSN/Q1/default.html
Thank you for posting...I"d like to continue this conversation.
