“In its broadest meaning, ’self-directed learning’ describes a process in which individuals take the initiative, with or without the assistance of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identify human and material resources for learning, choosing and implement appropriate learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes.”
– M. Knowles, Principles of Androgogy, 1972
For adults, self-directed learning is the primary form of learning. Once formal education is finished and a degree conferred, there are few physical places where adults can go to have an expert stand in front of them and deliver a well-thought out set of lessons. Thus they must become self-motivated and self-guided seekers of knowledge – this can be a difficult skill to master, but is made easier through access to online resources.
With the amount of information at our fingertips now, it could be argued that self-directed learning is more prevalent than ever before. If we need to know something, for any reason, we can start with Google or YouTube to find the answer. We don’t have to sign up for a course, or find a mentor. We can find the answer ourselves – and isn’t that the essence of self-directed learning?
