Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Developing Self-Directed Learners
http://www.nwrel.org/planning/reports/self-direct/index.html
Table 1: Research on Traits of Self-Directed Learners
| Learner Traits | Research | Classroom Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Student Motivation | Anderman, 2004; Guthrie, Alao, & Rinehart, 1997; Howse, Lange, Farran, & Boyles, 2003; Lumsden, 1994, 1999 | Challenging, but achievable, relevant assignments; conceptual theme instruction; choice in task/task accomplishment; mastery learning/outcome-based instruction; cooperative/collaborative learning; individual goal setting; accelerated learning; teacher modeling of positive behaviors; depth rather than breadth of topics. |
| Goal Orientation | Caraway, Tucker, Reinke, & Hall, 2003; Nichols, Jones, & Hancock, 2003; Stefanou & Parkes, 2003 | Type of assessment influences motivation; learner emotions/teacher instructional strategies influence student goal orientation; a higher general level of confidence increases student engagement in curriculum. |
| Locus of Control | Harlen & Crick, 2003; Miller, Fitch, & Marshall, 2003 | Learning goals rather than performance goals; at-risk students have a higher external locus of control. |
| Self-Efficacy | Bouffard & Couture, 2003; Linnenbrink & Pintrich, 2003; Thomas, 1993; Zimmerman, 2002 | Student demonstrates behavioral, cognitive, motivational engagement; teachers assist students to maintain self-efficacy beliefs; foster belief that competence/ability is changeable; motivational variables do not change much across subject matter; performance feedback improves independent learning. |
| Self-Regulation | Palmer & Wehmeyer, 2003 | Students can develop self-regulation through problem-solving/goal-setting instructional activities. |
| Metacognition | Blakey & Spence, 1990; Ngeow & Kong, 2001 | Students should plan, monitor, and evaluate their thinking processes; students should engage in inquiry/problem-based learning that includes problem framing, data gathering, divergent thinking, idea generation, evaluating alternatives. |
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