2.4 Pedagogical Approach

Figure 2.3: Self-directed Learning (SDL)

Self-Directed Learning (SDL) is recognized as an important approach for developing life and career skills that prepare students for further education and the workforce. SDL has two key characteristics:

Personal Responsibility:

• Students are expected to take ownership of their learning. This means they set their own learning goals and accept responsibility for their thoughts and actions.
  
  
• They make decisions about what and how to learn, maintaining control over many aspects of their learning process.
  
  

Social Interaction:

• Even though SDL focuses on personal responsibility, learning typically happens in a social setting.
  
  
• Students interact with teachers and other learners, which can enhance understanding and spark further interest in the subject.
  
  
• SDL involves negotiation between the teacher and learners about learning goals, methods, activities, and assessments.
  
  

• This dynamic teaching-learning process empowers students to take charge of their own learning while collaboratively engaging with teachers and peers to achieve deeper understanding and meaningful outcomes. 

• Students identify own learning goals and learning activities.

• Students regulate and plan the detailed decisions and arrangements related to their own learning, such as creating a schedule outline and planning tasks.

• Students self‐manage their own time.
• Students monitor own their own repertoire of learning strategies.
• Students adjust their own learning pathway as they progress.
  

• Students are aware of the assessment criteria.
• Students critically evaluate their work according to the set criteria.
  

• Students revise their work based on the feedback received from their teachers or peers at various stages.
• Students reflect on their own learning and apply what they have learnt to new contexts.