Knowra Self-directed learning Self-directed learning Self-directed learning is learning in which individuals take primary responsibility for setting goals and choosing resources and methods. It can occur with or without a teacher.
Learning goals : Statements of knowledge or skills that a learner aims to acquire. They give self-directed learning a destination chosen by the learner.
Learner autonomy : A learner's capacity to make informed decisions about their learning. It names the agency that self-directed learning puts into practice.
Self-study : Learning undertaken independently, usually outside a formal course or classroom. It is a common form of self-directed learning when no instructor sets the path.
Teacher-directed learning : Learning in which a teacher primarily determines goals, content, methods, and assessment. It assigns decisions to the instructor that self-directed learning assigns chiefly to learners.
Lifelong learning : Learning pursued throughout a person's life across formal, nonformal, and informal settings. Self-direction helps people continue learning beyond a single course or institution.
Metacognition : Awareness and regulation of one's own thinking and learning. Learners use it to judge what they understand and what to do next.
Adult education : Education designed for or undertaken by adults across formal and informal settings. Self-direction has a prominent place in theories and practice of adult education.
Massive open online course : An online course designed for large-scale participation, often with open enrollment. Many courses allow learners to choose their pace and pursue selected materials.
Self-regulated learning : A process in which learners plan, monitor, and regulate their cognition, motivation, and behavior. It focuses on regulating learning activity, while self-directed learning also emphasizes choosing its goals and resources.
Continuing education : Education pursued after initial schooling, often to update knowledge or develop skills. Learners commonly use self-directed approaches to meet changing professional needs.
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