This case study describes the rationale, development, and functioning of the Elders Learning Community, a nonprofit home and community service program that served older adults in Richmond, California. The program applied a blend of self-directed learning, learner-centered and significant learning approaches, and features of a member-driven…

What roles should the teacher play in a classroom reliant on self-directed learning (SDL)? When teachers give students the freedom and responsibility to take charge of their own learning, teachers obviously lose any role that directs student learning, such as telling the student what to work on, dictating the materials to be used, transmitting…

The foundational premise of this action research was the students' underestimation of a community service learning course. The objective of this study was to delve into the experiences and viewpoints of senior-level university students regarding the service learning course, employing the principles of self-directed learning. In this endeavor,…

Citation metrics have become a popular method of characterizing the citation performance of academic journals. Because the "International Journal of Self-Directed Learning" is not indexed in a data system that provides such metrics, the purpose of this research was to determine two popular citation metrics--h-index and i10-index--via…

Many students find the transition to college coursework stressful and challenging. Decades of research in the cognitive sciences have provided data regarding effective ways to obtain and retain information; however, many students do not use these strategies. In this article, we embed a self-study designed, conducted, and written up by Teddy…

This article explores the current research on teacher integration of instructional technology in their teaching practices. The literature shows that teachers continue, as they have for decades, to be reluctant and struggle to incorporate instructional technology resources into their lessons, depriving their students of needed skills and…

This study investigated the relationship between motivation and academic self-efficacy of teacher candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In addition, the mediating role of self-directed learning skills was also explored. In this study that is based on a correlational design, data were collected from 992 teacher candidates studying in…

The purpose of this practice brief is to share our educational technology team's best practices for facilitating preservice teachers' self-directed learning in technology-focused learning environments. Our team has developed technology courses that support and encourage learning environments in which students have opportunities to engage with our…

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted weaknesses in our education system and has prompted renewed conversation about the structure of education. This article argues that the conversation should be more geared to the why of education (i.e., the purpose of schools) rather than the how (i.e., the multiple ways of delivering education both for…

Scholars of self-directed learning look to define best practices in teaching and learning that promote an improvement in self-directed learning. In order to do this, learners need more awareness of the student learning outcomes that exist as part of their programs of study. Could the use of an e-portfolio system allow students to see their…

Competency-Based Education (CBE) programs require the demonstration of competence rather than accumulation of credits, empowering learners to choose the process and pace of their experience. The current study investigated the role that self-direction plays in the success of students in CBE programs and the extent to which the cultivation of…

A student of self-directed learning provides a perspective commentary on the use of fiction to foster discussion of themes, studies, and theories related to self-directed learning. The novel used is Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," set in a future dystopian society where books are outlawed and any that are found are burned by government…

As healthcare delivery, education, and technology dramatically evolve, middle managers serve a vital role in communication. Studies provide convincing evidence that resilience and self-directed learning can each be acquired and improved. This study investigated the relationship of resilience and self-directed learning readiness in healthcare…

Doctoral program noncompletion rates have been an area of concern within higher education for many years with overall completion rates of less than 50%. Some scholars have speculated it might be time to reevaluate the content, structure, and process used in doctoral programs in order to examine what adjustments might be made for improvement.…

This article explores the current research on the state of teacher professional development practices. The literature shows that conventional professional development practices are typically deficient in addressing teacher and, indirectly, student needs. Conventional professional development practices were shown to be deficient due to their…