Christy’s Reflections

First I would like to apologize for not writing in my blog. Since my throat surgery my mind has been a little difficult to focus. I have reread the material on self-directed learning and took a little time to reflect about the subject. It seems to me that self-directed learning occurs around us all the time in all age groups. Children use this type of learning while they are playing. They take paint and mix the colors together and discover that they can make new colors. They take molding clay and learn to create different shapes or animals out of it. While learning, they seem to be having fun.
In the adult arena, our experiences are a little different. We choose a skill, personal development, or seek to acquire some knowledge and this is brought about by our own effort. When we discussed this in class I had a difficult time thinking of something I had learned by self-directed learning. After hearing other classmates give their examples, the ideas came flooding in to my mind. I learned to install a door bell just the other day and was quite proud of my self. My husband got a fishing hook caught in his hand late one night and we looked on the internet and learned a new way to remove the hook with minimal damage to the skin. The internet is an excellent tool for self-directed learning. You can also see self-directed learning in the classroom. The instructor giving the student room to explore different venues to research and learn the material needed for the class. For most students, this type of learning is beneficial and can be used in the classroom. My hope is that all students will benefit from this type of learning.