Technology and Strategies for Self-Directed Learning - Essay Example

Technology and Strategies for Self-Directed Learning Barbara Colon EDU-573 Dr. Lockett 23-02 room’s Computer/Internet Technology and otherElectronic Equipment Learning can enhance the intelligence of individuals, if effective learning tools and mechanisms are used. In order to enhance the learning of students, computers and internet will be use in an effective manner. Computers will be used to store images of plants that will be shared with the students on the projector to make them all the more clear and visible (Ghosn, 2010). It is important to highlight different parts of the plants as this help learner to identify the plants’ characteristics and parts in a hassle free manner. In this regard, projectors will be of great utility. It can be said that both computers and projectors will be of great benefit and support to achieve the goal of the learning program. The application of computer technologies in modern day education is one of the many utilities that have been put to use by the developing technologies. With the use of the computer technologies and the internet, learners will get an opportunity to gain knowledge in an interactive manner. Furthermore, the use of the computer technologies and the internet will offer ample opportunities to collect information from a wide range of sources, explore them and garner knowledge, which had little scope in the absence if the internet (Krouk and Zhuravleva, 2009). However, the availability of internet to the maximum population of the students is a critical issue; they need to have access to the computer technologies and the internet in order to avail the benefits. (Ghosn, 2010). Thus, projectors will be of great support. This will help in sharing the content and images with all the learners and allowing the instructor to support the entire class. The instructors will also be able to assess the interest level of learners by analysing the overall participation of the learners. This will also increase the control and participation level of the instructors and making the learning more beneficial. The success of the above mentioned computer technologies along with electronic devices will further strengthen the overall learning program. Description and explanation for selecting three to four self-directed, cognitive learning strategies and their relation with the learning objectives The learning objectives of the learning program have been formulated in a logical manner. Learning objectives stated, knowledge is important to identify different parts of plants. The other objectives were comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis. Learners will be able to describe the different need for plants and plants parts, through drawing and shading different types of plants, their parts and biomes, as well as eating different plant parts such as fruits, vegetables along with identifying different adaptations of plants, their habitats and biomes, and to explain how certain characteristics of the plants helps them to adapt to their environment. Self-directed learning is the process of acquiring knowledge with the help of one’s own tension, forts and learning process adopted by the one himself or herself. One of the most evaluative learning processes is allowing oneself to learn, acquire knowledge by oneself. Such a phenomenon requires the utmost level of concentration, when an individual starts self-directed learning he or she is solely responsible for the learning outcome and the degree of the quality of their learning outcomes (Abdullah, 2007). Some of the popular self-directed strategies are firstly, self-management. When one is in the process of learning, he or she needs to manage one’s own learning process and for that one has to proceed to the objecting by setting goals, planning the process, scheduling the process, managing time to put the schedule into work and others. One has to do this alone and thus need added degree of motivation. In case of the learning program, self-management, one of the most important areas is setting goals for oneself. Learners will be motivated to set their learning goals in order to facilitate their learning. Once the goals will be know; they will be integrated with the learning program goals stated in the above discussion. Second strategy is self-monitoring where the student pays attention to the performance of oneself on the process of attaining the set out goals and objectives in a critical manner so as to ascertain that there are no gaps and loopholes in the effort. In the context of the learning program, this learning will be integrated application and analysis. Learners should apply their knowledge and learning be demonstrating their knowledge on plants. Self-monitoring techniques will be shared with the learners so that they will be having an understanding of the usefulness of this self directed learning. This increases the scope of success and ensures quality. The final strategy is self-modification where one look out for ways to improve oneself. It is the willingness of the student to perform better when there are ways to perform better (Shannon, 2008). This self directed learning will be integrated with knowledge, comprehension, analysis, application, and synthesis and learners will be motivated. With these strategies learners can attain the learning objectives in a clear and systematic manner. Three ways that the instructor can use to guide students in self-directed, cognitive learning process In a self-directed, cognitive learning process the learners would be completely responsible for the learning process that is selected by the individuals and the way, they go through the learning process. The presence of the teachers rather instructor will not be negated. Their role will become passive and supportive instead of active roles into the learning process of the individual. The three ways by which the instructor can use to guide the students in self-directed, cognitive learning process is firstly acting as a motivator guide. Here the instructor will inspire the candidate with guided and inspiring lectures that will help the student in discovering their areas of interest, and which creates an element of interest in the self-learning process which later will act as the motivating force. The inspiring and guided lectures of the instructors will also help the student in setting their goals, plan the process, set the schedule and follow it systematically. This can be considered as an ideal learning process where groups will be formed and participation with the instructors will enhance the learning capabilities of learners. This will also allow in monitoring the overall learning behaviour of learners in an effective manner. The next way that the instructor can enhance the learning process is by acting as a facilitator. Here the instructor will take the role of a participator in the process where the student and the teacher works together like a workshop or a seminar where the instructions are coded as suggestions and where the instructor supports the students rather than guiding. It helps in building up of the confidence of the student and strengthening the will power of the student which plays very important role in the success of the learning process. Finally the instructors will adopt the way of the consultant or the delegator where the prime role would be enhancing the performance of the student. It generally happens during the very concluding stages where the students acquires the knowledge and is well equipped and on the verge of successfully completing the learning process. The majority of the focus will be on understanding the learning behaviour of students and accordingly formulating the learning strategies. Instructors will guide students in every possible manner by taking help of the audio and visuals along with being vocal in terms of sharing the knowledge. Instructors will also be facilitating the counseling session where learning doubts will be answered. Brooks (2011) found that motivating students to achieve the goals help in enhancing their learning. Bhageri, et al (2013) found that, facilitating the learning of students through emotional and motivating way can enhance their learning behaviour. Overall, based on the personal experience, it can be said that in order to facilitate the learning process, it is important to have the support and cooperation of a, guide, motivator, and facilitator. This has helped me in setting goals along with being motivated and thoughtful. Evaluation of one of the strategies and its evidence of success The project-based learning being one of the strategies of self-directed learning has been proven to be beneficial for the evaluative outcome of the process. Though, there is no proper information on the founder of the theory, there is enough information on its success factors. The present scenario reflects the need for essential evaluative skills and qualities of the workforce which is above the formal education, which is generally the quantitative part of the education (Ghosh, 2011). But in case of the present requirement the education needs to be qualitative that will be helpful in serving a number of functions other than meeting the direct requirement of the job. The project-based learning strategy of the self-directed learning gives an opportunity to have a firsthand experience of studying the subject closely in the practical environment and then form an assessment of the same. The knowledge gained by the practical study of the subject adds to the evaluative aspect of the education which would be supplemented with practical connotations and thus will give it a practicable approach rather than the understanding of the common theory. Through the project based learning in which the students will be learning about the plants, a close study of the subject in the natural environment will give an opportunity to have a close look at the different part of the plant while the theoretical knowledge in the form of sharing information on plats will be shared through the use of computers, internet, and projectors. Through the project based learning approach, teachers will be able to share their theoretical knowledge with students and students will be getting first hand learning. Through the project-based learning process, the theory will get substantiated with the practical evidences. This will help students to get theoretical and practical knowledge along with enhancing their learning by being guided, motivated, and monitored by the efficient instructors. 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