Self-Directed Learning - Friend or Foe?

As an instructor of very short-termed courses, I struggle with teaching various students a subject that they may have very little previous knowledge, in a short period of time. First aid is in the heart of some people, and not in others. I have only 5 days or 10 days to teach a variety of skills and a huge amount of information. My classes vary with learning types, language issues, and cultural differences. Yet, as a first aid instructor, I need to ready my students for an formal examination and real life.

Knowing different learning styles can be very helpful. One of the trends within this community is self-directed learning. In more and more formal classrooms, self directed learning is touted as the better way to learn. Theoretically, students are able to better learn when they are in control. It can be more motivational, but at what cost? Very little research has been done to check how self-directed learning can influence attention and memory. And what about the fact that not everyone is an optimal self-directed learner? Adding to this, not all subjects are conducive to this learning style.

Todd Gureckis writes a good article in the Association for Psychological Science, discussing these issues, and referencing research that he and Douglas Markant performed. Check it out at: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/what-makes-self-directed-learning-effective.html#.WFnep_krKUk