SDL
"SDL is an increase in knowledge, skill, accomplishment or personal development that an individual selects and brings about by his or her own efforts using any method in any circumstance at any time.“
(Maurice Gibbons 2002)
"SDL is the capacity of adults for critical selfreflection and for changing their lives."
(Mezirow)
Malcolm Knowles (1975), in defining self directed learning as "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"
Believes in SDL
• Learners know best what they need and want to learn
• Humans want to learn and grow
• Self directed learning is about learning to become more and more self directed
• In an everchanging world, being able to take responsability for your learning is crucial
What does it mean to be a "self directed learner"?
- Being in touch with your interests
- formulate questions that you can answer by inquiring and researching
- locate the most relevant and reliable sources of the required information and data
- select and use the most efficient means of collecting data and information
- organize, analyze and evaluate data to get valid answers to questions
- Generalize, discuss and share those answers
Progressive...
Trainer-directed learning – the participants control ±10 % of the learning process:
The trainers determine almost all aspects of the learning process: the learning goals, the activities and their order, the methods and the assessment procedure.
Incidental self-directed learning - the participants control ± 20% of the learning process
The trainers sometimes introduce SDL activities into training courses that are otherwise mainly TDL. For example: participants can choose from different
workshops.
Self managed learning – the participants control ± 30 % of the learning process
The trainers still control the learning goals, the activities and the order they need to be completed in and the assessment process. The participants now
are responsible for managing their own speed and progress through the training course. There can be a learning guide to help the participants work independently.
Self planned learning – the participants control ± 50% of the learning process
The trainers control the learning goals and (part of) the assessment process. The participants choose the activities that are part of the learning process and also monitor their own speed and progress towards the learning goals.
Self-directed learning – the participants control ± 70 % of the learning process
The participants choose the outcomes, design their own activities and pursue them in their own way. They also monitor and evaluate their own learning process. They can discuss this with and get support from trainers and peers.
Note: this material is from the presentation "Self directed learning (SDL) - a lecture", from "To live is to learn - SDL as an approach towards live and education"
