Progression of Self-Directed Learning in Health Professions Education: Clarifying Terms and Processes

Abstract

The progression of becoming a fully self-directed learner is represented as a double helix in the model below. One helix represents educators who support learner SRL, and the other represents the learner's SRL processes. With each revolution of the helices, the learner progresses through an SRL cycle, bringing them closer to becoming a fully self-directed learner. Along this journey, educators and other learners offer support in the form of coregulation, which is represented by the linkages of the helices.The model describes SDL as an iterative process that spirals over time. Learning and assessment of learning are linked, as learners monitor their own progress and receive external feedback during learning activities. After successive adjustments, the learner progresses to higher levels of learning and performance.

Two Novel Approaches for the Implementation and Assessment of Self-Directed Learning in the Pre-Clinical Medical School Curriculum

“…Self-directed learning (SDL) is an "approach where learners are motivated to assume personal responsibility and collaborative control of the cognitive and contextual processes in constructing and con rming meaningful and worthwhile learning outcomes". It is important to note that SDL is different from selfregulated learning (SRL) [12]. While SRL involves "The process of a learner controlling their cognition, motivation, emotion, and behavior to achieve speci c learning tasks or goals in a given context" [12], SDL is considered "a general approach to learning in which the learner takes responsibility for self-identifying gaps in knowledge and skills and then applies SRL strategies to remedy those gaps."…”

“…It is important to note that SDL is different from selfregulated learning (SRL) [12]. While SRL involves "The process of a learner controlling their cognition, motivation, emotion, and behavior to achieve speci c learning tasks or goals in a given context" [12], SDL is considered "a general approach to learning in which the learner takes responsibility for self-identifying gaps in knowledge and skills and then applies SRL strategies to remedy those gaps." In SDL, learning is linked to assessment of learning, because learners must monitor their progress and obtain external feedback.…”