Self-directed Learning in Secondary Education During Remote Study Process. Case Study in Latvia

Abstract

Due to rapid technological changes and innovations, by graduation students have to be equipped with skills necessary for lifelong learning. There is an increasing potential for students’ further development in the digital environment. In high school, it is necessary to build and improve the students’ skills of self-assessing their own learning needs, as well as setting educational objectives and measuring their success. The importance of self-directed learning has increased particularly in the context of COVID-19. In many countries, educational institutions are closed and studying process is remote, reducing the level of teacher involvement and increasing pupils’ own responsibility for their learning outcomes. Changing the classroom from direct spatial presence to the digital environment also changes learning opportunities and increases the importance of digital skills. It is therefore necessary to identify whether pupils possess the necessary self-directed learning skills for the purpose of learning, selecting activities and study materials, managing time, structuring the learning environment, skills to communicate and collaborate and assess their performance, as well as the digital skills needed to organise the digital learning environment and identify the major challenges in remote learning. The results of the study show that pupils have assessed their self-driving learning skills as sufficient, however, as well as that the learning process has been challenging and has created motivational, self-discipline and socializing problems.