After wrapping up the first 2 weeks of the PIDP 3250 course I wanted to add a post summarizing the forum that was facilitated and the great resources that came from the discussions:
- Heutagogy is the study of self-determined learning. It involves the process of learning content, as well as learning how to learn.
- Self-directed learning can be intimidating for incoming students. An instructor may encounter resistance when first introducing self-directed activities.
- Assessing students needs through the use of conversation and questions may help in engaging each student.
- To foster a self-directed learning environment, the instructor should create a safe, positive environment that includes encouragement and quality, timely feedback.
- Informal assessments, such as muddiest point may help gauge student comprehension, interest and engagement of a subject.
- There are four recognized facets to becoming a self-directed learner:
- Helping students learn to be organized, prioritize tasks and manage their time may increase confidence, leading to an increase in self-direction.
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivators may be directly linked to the self-directedness of students.
- There are varying degrees of self-directedness that are determined by our current circumstances, past experiences, available time and existing knowledge of the topic.
- Keep a few extra learning activities in your back pocket in case a lesson is not going as well as you had hoped. This allows you to be flexible.
Heutagogy: An alternative practice based learning approach.
- Bhoyrub, J., Hurley, J., Neilson, G. R., Ramsay, M., & Smith, M. (2010). Heutagogy: An alternative practice based learning approach. Nurse Education in Practice, 10, 322-326. doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2010.05.001.
Student engagement techniques: A handbook for college faculty
Barkley, E.F. (2010). Student engagement techniques: A handbook for college faculty. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.