Supporting Independent Learning
Encouraging learners to become more self-directed, and supporting the students who are already self-directed are important goals for all professors in their teaching practice. These tips and tools may give you some new ideas as you pursue this goal.
 Supporting and Facilitating Self-Directed Learning. This article by Cheryl Lowry, in The National Teaching and Learning Forum is a good starting point as it focuses on the adult learner . Note particularly the section on the roles of educators and institutions in supporting self-directed learning.
www.ntlf.com/html/lib/bib/89dig.htm
Teaching Learners to be Self-Directed. An online adaptation of this article by Gerald Grow, describes a four-stage approach to developing self-directed learners, including tips for motivating students in each of these four stages. An interesting framework for approaching the facilitation of self-directed learning.
http://www.longleaf.net/ggrow/SSDL/Model.html#Figure1
 Techniques, Tools and Resources for the Self-Directed Learner is an excellent resource that describes six types of techniques, tools and resources that self-directed learners can use: planning tools, individual study techniques, personal reflection tools, individual skill development, group study techniques, community-based resources. As this site speaks directly to the student, it may provide many useful links that you may want to make available for your students.
http://home.twcny.rr.com/hiemstra/sdltools.html
The Learning Contract. From the University of Waterloo, an excellent tips sheet for creating learning contracts with your students, including a sample learning contract and a discussion of the benefits and limitations of learning contracts.
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infotrac/tips/is_learningcontracts.pdf
Using Learning Contracts in the College Classroom. This article by Joseph Codde from Michigan State describes the benefits of learning contracts in the context of giving students an opportunity to be active participants in the learning process.
http://www.msu.edu/user/coddejos/contract.htm
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