Let's begin with the negatives. The greatest negative aspects that I encountered with online SDL were the lack of community and the ability to procrastinate. Not having a physical classroom definitely contributed to my lack of motivation in the course; I felt less engaged because I was not physically responsible to my teacher and fellow classmates. I also found it very easy to procrastinate in the class. When there is not a physical teacher reminding you of what is expected on a class-by-class basis, those expectations become less important
While there are definite negative aspects to online SDL, there are huge benefits as well. The convenience and flexibility of an online course are by far its best selling features. The fact that I was able to write my responses in the comfort of my own home whenever I wanted was fantastic. This is excellent for student motivation-- I could write when I was feeling up to it, not at a pre-determined time of day that would normally have me tired or non-enganged.
Liyan Song and Janette Hills' article "A Conceptual Model for Understanding Self-Directed Learning in Online Environments" states that learners can direct themselves better in an area in which they are familiar. I encountered this in my own education; I was much more keen on taking an online course on something that I had some experience in. The thought of taking a class that was completely foreign to me was daunting. Online courses are excellent for self-motivation, but sometimes the vastness of the Internet and its resources can be enough to quell a students' motivation.
Ultimately, the greatest advantage to online SDL is that students take their learning into their own hands. Hill and Song note that students involved in SDL used resources more effectively and had more control of their learning. One of the best signs of a good teacher is one whom can make their students passionate about their own learning. Real learning occurs when a student cares about the process, rather than just the final outcome (i.e. grade). In the online SDL classes that I have taken, I definitely found that I learned more for the sake of learning rather than to just achieve my final mark. Online SDL encourages students to be responsible for their own education, which I believe is the most effective form of education.
You can check out a great resource on self directed learning by clicking here.
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Song, A & Hill, J. R. (2007) A Conceptual Model for Understanding Self-Directed Learning in Online Environments. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 6(1) Retrieved from:http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/PDF/6.1.3.pdf
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ReplyDeleteVery well written post! Your post is both clear and concise and really addresses many of the key issues regarding self-directed learning in an online environment. As you stated above, students must learn to take responsibility and initiative for their own learning in order for self-directed learning to be effective. I completely agree that a good teacher is one who can make their students passionate about their own learning, and furthermore who is able to help the students to become life-long learners. To this end, it is of utmost importance that we as teachers are aware of the advantages and limitations of self-directed learning, and are prepared to support students when they encounter difficulties with online learning. In my mind, the real question here becomes how do we get students to focus on the process of learning, rather than just the final outcome? Maybe the best way to get the students to focus on the process is by helping them to pursue their studies in an area that they find intrinsically rewarding. Once they find an area they are really passionate about, they are much more likely to want to learn and become engaged in the subject matter, rather than solely focusing just on receiving an excellent grade in the particular course. I feel that self-directed learning provides students with an opportunity to work on enhancing their intrinsic motivation not only within the classroom setting but also in all other areas of life. If properly designed, an online context for self-directed learning can be very effective in preparing students for life long learning in the real world. As you mentioned, there are both positive and negative implications associated with online/self-directed learning. I found an interesting article, which may be useful for students to consider before deciding whether or not an online course is the most appropriate and effective method of instruction for them. The article is titled "Is Distance Learning Right for You?" and can be accessed at the following website: http://distancelearn.about.com/od/isitforyou/a/considering.htm
ReplyDeleteWhile it is imperative that we consider both the positive and negative benefits of self-directed learning in an online environment, I truly believe that if it is set up correctly and the teacher is 100% committed and dedicated to it, this type of learning environment can be very effective and will certainly help students to prepare for life in the real world, one that increasingly relies heavily on the understanding and use of technology. It is very evident that there is an increased demand for online courses as they provide the learners with convenience and flexibility and allow students to choose when, where and how they learn as well as to choose the pace at which they want to work through the material being taught. I wonder if online learning will eventually replace the traditional method of teaching in a classroom?
I found it very interesting that you started your post with the negatives. I absolutely understand how the lack of community or physical presence in a classroom can negatively affect someone’s experience of SDL. As this is my first online course, I am currently learning how to adapt to not having a physical classroom for my learning.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you touched on the idea that a teacher’s motivation for genuine learning of the subject matter can make all the difference in the way that students find passion in their own learning in an SDL environment. I think that the types of interesting and engaging online presentations that we explored in the course material this week would help engage students, especially in an online class. Do you think it would be difficult to inspire passion for learning if you were conducting an online-based SDL course? Would you consider integrating SDL into your future classrooms?