Self-directed Lifelong Learning Research Articles

Enhancing Education and Training for Professionals and Formal Carers: Implementing Microlearning

Abstract Background Current technological, economic and social changes trigger the need for new concepts and strategies to support lifelong learning. Education, including work-based learning, is in need of transformation, requiring renewal and innovative ways of relating appropriately to the way we live, work and learn today (Downes, 2005; Kuhlmann & Sauter 2008; Chisholm 2005). Staff shortages and heavier workloads has reduced the availability of health care staff to attend in-depth training courses. This, coupled with the recent moves away from traditional face-to-face learning to e-learning, we had to re-consider teaching theories and teaching methods. Methods In this poster I will present how we utilised microlearning to improve staff knowledge about dementia and nutrition. Microlearning is a method of delivering small, bite-sized pieces of information that can be easily consumed and retained by learners. It offers customised learning experiences that cater to the unique needs and preferences of each learner and provides an engaging and interactive learning experience through the use of multimedia, quizzes, and games. Results Microlearning facilitates self-directed lifelong learning, as short activities can be easily integrated into everyday activities. Small learning steps with small pieces of information can be used for learning in between and on-demand. In this way microlearning enables individuals to stay up to date in today’s knowledge society and offers a viable supplement to more time-consuming and formalized modes of learning, such as classroom courses or web-based trainings. Additionally, this poster will describe how we have applied microlearning as an emerging pedagogy that enables learners and clinicians to engage in short, focused, asynchronous and just-in-time learning. Conclusion Microlearning as an educational strategy has demonstrated a positive effect on the knowledge and confidence of health professions learners in performing procedures, retaining knowledge, studying, and engaging in collaborative learning.

Evaluation of effectiveness of case-based learning in clinical biochemistry teaching among phase-I MBBS students

Background: Biochemistry is a crucial science in medical education, traditionally taught through didactic lectures and practical sessions. However, a shift toward a student-centric approach is promoting lifelong self-directed learning and motivation. Case-based learning (CBL) and interactive didactic lectures (IDL) are two methodologies, with CBL fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, while interactive lectures may not be as effective. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the research were to evaluate the effectiveness of CBL in comparison with IDL in teaching clinical biochemistry to 1st-year MBBS students and to analyze the perceptions of both students and faculty members regarding CBL. Materials and Methods: The study used a pre-validated questionnaire and a prevalidated perception questionnaire to collect data from students and faculty members. The students were divided into two groups, with group A having odd roll numbers and group B having even roll numbers. The study was divided into two sessions. In session 1, both groups were assessed on their baseline knowledge through a pre-test on Topic 1, with group A receiving CBL and group B receiving an IDL. Post-tests were taken to evaluate understanding and retention of the material. In session 2, both groups underwent another pre-test on topic 2, with group A receiving an IDL and group B receiving CBL. Post-tests were also conducted to assess understanding and retention. Results: The results showed that both groups had similar pre-test performance, but the CBL group showed a significant improvement in post-test performance compared to the IDL group. In addition, both students and faculty members had a positive perception of CBL, with the majority agreeing that it improved teacher–student communication, facilitated active participation, enhanced understanding of key concepts, and promoted knowledge application. Conclusion: The study suggests that CBL is an effective teaching method for medical education, aligning with modern educational approaches that emphasize student-centered learning. The positive feedback and improved academic performance support the integration of CBL into medical curricula, promoting meaningful learning and preparing students for lifelong self-directed learning.

Effectiveness of problem-based learning compared to conventional lectures as a teaching–learning method for medical students

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is based on adult learning theory which provides a better understanding of the problem through self-directed learning. During didactic lectures, students are receiving the information and they are memorizing it without understanding the practical applications. PBL provides an active learning environment along with the acquisition of other skills. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of PBL over conventional lectures as a teaching–learning method for phase 1 medical students. Furthermore, the perception of students toward PBL was taken. Materials and Methods: PBL sessions were conducted among 100 Phase 1 medical students by dividing them into two groups and assessed by MCQs. Lecture class was taken for the whole students and again assessed by MCQs for the non-PBL topics. A comparison between the aggregate test scores was made using an unpaired t-test. Perception of students toward PBL was collected using a validated questionnaire in Likert scale and expressed as a percentage. Results: Data analysis showed the aggregate mean score of PBL as 27.96 (3.42) and conventional lecture as 22.66 (4.28) with P < 0.001, which was taken as significant. Students showed a positive response toward PBL as an effective learning tool. Conclusion: PBL is an effective teaching–learning method that can be incorporated into the medical curriculum to create medical graduates with self-directed lifelong learning skills.

평생학습에 참여하는 성인학습자의 성장과정에 대한 질적연구

The purpose of this study is to investigate the growth and changes of common adult learners after their participation in lifelong learning. For this purpose, the investigator conducted a focus group interview(FGI) with 9 adult learners that were active to participate in lifelong learning programs in the community. As a result, they were participated to lifelong learning with different opportunities, participated in a variety of lifelong learning programs with curiosity and expectations, and conducted their own inquiry little by little. In the process, they got to recognize the areas of learning that met their interests and needs and get immersed in certain areas of learning. Being persistent with their lifelong learning, they enhanced their own competencies and professionalism and grew into maturer learners by a notch. In other words, adult learners that used to students grew and became the subjects to plan or lead a lifelong learning program for others and the community. They also grew into self-directed lifelong learners based on the fusion of life and learning, identifying the learning topics needed in their lives sensitively, exploring learning information linked to them efficiently, making achievements through active participation, and changing their lives by practicing outcomes. Like this, adult learners were growing through their participation in lifelong learning from ‘Participate in lifelong learning’ through ‘exploring learners’ and ‘Growing learners(community-oriented or individual-oriented)’. Based on the growth and changing process of adult learners specifically examined in the study, the investigator proposed differentiating supportive measures at the levels of lifelong educators and lifelong learning.

Integrating Alteryx Designer and Tableau Desktop into the AIS Course: An Analytics Mindset Model

ABSTRACT This paper presents one approach to integrating data analytics (DA) and visualization content and software into the accounting information systems (AIS) course. The proposed AIS course model—which includes core and support components—covers many topics in the proposed 2024 CPA Evolution Model curriculum. The core components include an instructor-chosen AIS textbook and Alteryx Designer and Tableau Desktop software. The popularity, availability, ease of learning, and use of the Alteryx and Tableau software motivate choosing the software. The support components include weekly homework, a class project, professional certification exams, and a course survey. The course learning objectives facilitate (1) developing an analytics mindset, (2) cultivating an interest in accounting analytics and AIS, and (3) enhancing life-long self-directed learning in students. Instructors can implement the proposed course model in provided 15-, ten-, or four-week sessions. Evidence of efficacy suggests that the proposed course model meets its key learning objectives.

Assessing the Quality of Learning Materials in a Learning Management System (LMS): Its Impact on Learning Outcomes

This research investigates the influence of project team interaction, guidance, feedback, and material quality within the Learning Management System (LMS) on the development of critical thinking skills and the ability to engage in lifelong learning. Partial least squares analysis was employed to test hypotheses using data from participants in the Catholic Religious Teacher Professional Education program at the Educational Institution for Education Personnel Santo Yakobus Merauke-South Papua through simple random sampling. The research results indicate that project team interaction, guidance, feedback, and material quality within the Learning Management System (LMS) significantly and positively contribute to developing critical thinking skills and lifelong self-directed learning. The managerial implications of this study underscore the importance of creating high-quality learning materials in the LMS and providing practical guidance and feedback to students to support the development of both skills. The theoretical implications of this research strengthen the understanding of the relationship between project team interaction, guidance, feedback, material quality in the LMS, critical thinking skills, and self-directed learning. Theories in education and psychology can be utilized as a foundation for designing more effective interventions to enhance both skills.

Using E-Portfolios for Meaningful Teaching and Learning in Distance Education in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review

Web-based technology has proven itself indispensable in education, especially in distance education and in developing countries. Technological advances and the COVID-19 pandemic have forced higher education institutions to be innovative in delivering education in their countries. This article seeks to demonstrate the role and value of e-portfolios as an alternative teaching and learning tool in distance education and the online environment, especially in developing countries. A systematic review of peer-reviewed academic studies of e-portfolios between 2010 and 2020 was conducted. A total of 18 papers were selected according to the inclusion criteria. The review shows that the use of e-portfolios is still a relatively new trend in developing countries. The study also revealed that e-portfolios can infuse important skills such as self-directed learning, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. These results have the potential to help institutions to creatively design appropriate support tools and strategies alongside the implementation of e-portfolios in their contexts.

Graduate Employability of Business Students

The objective of the study was to examine the perceptions of business students on their employability skills at the point of graduation. The study was partially driven by past research which identified lack of soft skills as one of the main contributing factors in younger workers’ dismissal from work, and the need to understand the level of employability skills younger graduates have at graduation. An exploratory descriptive research methodology was used for the study. A survey was administered to 189 fourth-year business students. In total, 90 students filled-in the questionnaire, representing a 47.6% response rate. Based on a structured survey questionnaire administered to final-year undergraduate business students, the four most important employability skills for recruitment to entry-level positions are communication skills, learning skills, positive attitudes and behaviours, and problem-solving skills. The main prominent result was that ‘learning skills’ were ranked the second most important employability skills. In today’s fast-paced, rapidly changing work environments that are characterised by rapid knowledge obsolescence and an unknown future, willingness to learn and proactive lifelong learning are key to sustaining long-term graduate employability. Students seem to be satisfied with their perceived level of academic, personal management, and teamwork skills they possessed at the point of graduation. However, there are possible areas for further improvement regarding creativity and innovative skills, and ability to ‘resolve and management conflicts’ in teamwork. The study found that students used a combination of traditional and student-centred learning methods and pedagogies to acquire employability skills. As business students approach graduation, it is important to focus on areas they can improve and emphasise self-directed lifelong learning throughout their careers. The study confirms the role of external factors—labour market demand—in influencing perceived employability. The perceptions of students need to be systematically included in HEIs’ employability policy and discourse.

Toward Automatic Interpretation of Narrative Feedback in Competency-Based Portfolios

Self-directed learning is generally considered a key competence in higher education. To enable self-directed learning, assessment practices increasingly embrace assessment for learning rather than the assessment of learning, shifting the focus from grades and scores to provision of rich, narrative, and personalized feedback. Students are expected to collect, interpret, and give meaning to this feedback, in order to self-assess their progress and to formulate new, appropriate learning goals and strategies. However, interpretation of aggregated, longitudinal narrative feedback has been proven to be very challenging, cognitively demanding, and time consuming. In this article, we, therefore, explored the applicability of existing, proven text mining techniques to support feedback interpretation. More specifically, we investigated whether it is possible to automatically generate meaningful information about prevailing topics and the emotional load of feedback provided in medical students’ competence-based portfolios (N = 1500), taking into account the competence framework and the students’ various performance levels. Our findings indicate that the text-mining techniques topic modeling and sentiment analysis make it feasible to automatically unveil the two principal aspects of narrative feedback, namely the most relevant topics in the feedback and their sentiment. This article, therefore, takes a valuable first step toward the automatic, online support of students, who are tasked with meaningful interpretation of complex narrative data in their portfolio as they develop into self-directed life-long learners.

Medical Students' Technology Use for Self-Directed Learning: Contributing and Constraining Factors.

With medical education shifting towards competency-based models, medical students are expected to be self-directed lifelong learners. There is an urgent need to understand what technology students adopt for self-directed learning and what factors contributed to students' self-initiated technology use. This study took place in a midwestern university medical school, which implements a flipped classroom model where students are required to learn all the course materials independently before class. Twenty-six first- and second-year medical students participated in a semi-structured interview about their self-directed learning with technology, and contributing factors towards technology use. A qualitative description methodology using thematic analysis was used to identify key themes from the interview data. Medical students reported using four types of technologies for learning video resources, self-assessment tools, management tools, and social media. Three key determinants of students' self-directed technology use were identified, including perceived usefulness, subjective norms, and educational compatibility. By probing medical students' self-initiated technology use and its determinants, this study suggested that in a self-directed learning environment, medical students used a variety of third-party resources to facilitate learning and develop self-directed learning skills. This study also provided important practical implications to better support students' productive use of technologies for self-directed learning.

Integrating Problem-Based Learning Into an Internal Medicine Residency Curriculum.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is a form of constructivist learning that allows learners to use higher order thinking by promoting learners to construct their own knowledge and understanding. PBL is prevalent in medical school education, but literature on PBL in graduate medical education (GME) is lacking. Because of the limited amount of data on PBL curricula in GME and the need for young physicians to develop critical thinking, lifelong self-directed learning, and problem-solving skills, we sought to incorporate PBL into the curriculum for our internal medicine residency program in a university-based community hospital setting. Methods: The PBL committee created 4 cases derived from actual patient encounters that address common chief complaints encountered in the hospital and served as a crash course curriculum for interns in internal medicine. The success of the PBL curriculum was measured using a 39-question survey created by PBL leadership to assess the learners' satisfaction with case content, likeability/design, feasibility, effectiveness, and motivation/self-learning. Additional questions asked for ways to improve PBL sessions in the future. Results: Overall, interns felt the content was clinically relevant, challenged them to think critically, and aided in the medical management of their patients. They also found PBL to be more effective and more enjoyable than the traditional lecture-style curriculum. Conclusion: Implementing a PBL curriculum in a residency program is possible. Although PBL has associated challenges such as scheduling, it is well received when supported by the program.

Supporting Self-Directed Learning: Development of a Faculty Evaluation Scale

Construct: We sought to assess medical education faculty members’ ability to support students in the development of self-regulated learning skills. Background: It is broadly agreed that medical students should become self-directed lifelong learners to succeed as physicians. To that end, many instruments have been developed that measure student attributes of self-directed learning (SDL). By contrast, no such analogous valid instrument is available to assess faculty familiarity in pedagogical strategies to promote SDL among students. Approach: An item bank with 45 items was created and its content-related validity evaluated by a panel of twenty experts. The items were selected and validated in the framework of Item Response Theory (IRT). The unidimensionality of all items within four constructs was assessed by using modified parallel analysis and 2 parameter IRT model calibration. The final version of the Recognition of Learning-Oriented Teaching Strategies (RoLOTS) instrument was validated by using the IRT marginal reliability as well as 2PL model calibrations. Different Item Functioning (DIF) in student-educators and gender was examined. Findings: The final version of RoLOTS included 20 items, with five in each of four subdomains: building content knowledge; the emotional and motivational aspects of learning; leveraging the social nature of the learning process; and metacognitive processes that promote student regulation of the learning process. Construct validity and reliability of each of the four domains were well supported by the results. Significant DIF was not detected in student-educator and gender. Conclusions: The RoLOTS successfully evaluated whether a faculty member is familiar with pedagogical tools to promote medical students’ self-directed learning, which can be used as a first step in needs-based professional development. Further research is needed to provide more validity and reliability evidence among groups with diverse SDL experience.

Assessing for Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Distinguishing Evidence-Based Practice From Reflective Learning.

Assessing for Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Distinguishing Evidence-Based Practice From Reflective Learning.

Public libraries as places for self-directed lifelong learning: narratives of empowerment

Introduction. The purpose of this study is to explore how library-based study groups in Japanese public libraries serve as arenas for citizens’ self-directed learning, and the role played in the lives of the group members. Method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four participants, focussing on the backgrounds and interests of the study group members. Analysis. Categorical content analysis was implemented to clarify the three research questions 1) Recognition of public libraries as a place for self-directed learning and citizens’ empowerment, 2) Relationships with other group members and 3) Affiliations with public libraries. Results. The groups provided arenas in which members could pursue self-directed learning; develop meaningful adult relationships; and through which they could affect positive change in their communities. Conclusions. The study groups were perceived as tools for self-realisation and libraries as places where study group members could satisfy their intellectual needs. Participation in the study groups also fostered group members’ civic awareness and gave them outlets for civic engagement related to the promotion of literacy and, more broadly, education.

PYP Journey at KNUES

Education in our era calls for global learners who reflect on themselves with an open minded and inquiring attitude and lead positive changes in the world in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the transition to a hyper-connected society. Therefore, our school is working hard on researching and implementing innovation in elementary education by running a program that incorporates the characteristics of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) for the first time in public schools. Kyungpook National University Elementary School (KNUES) has been conducting the Primary Years Program (PYP) since September 1, 2019, after being certified as an IB candidate school. The IB PYP has only been implemented at a few foreign private schools in Korea, and this is the first time that the curriculum has been introduced at a non-private elementary school. As a school leading the national curriculum, the foremost purpose of our school in implementing the IB PYP is to seek practical methodologies to enhance the effectiveness of the Korean National Curriculum. Therefore, based on the Korean National Curriculum, the IB program naturally incorporates the characteristics of the education system and continues to review the optimization of the Korean elementary education program. This is the major difference between IB education and main education at foreign schools in Korea. Our students are growing into self-directed lifelong learners by asking themselves questions and cooperating with friends through concept-based inquiry classes that transcend the subject. Through implementing the IB PYP education program, our school will improve the student-centered classroom culture and the curriculum-based teaching methods.

Self-Directed Learning: A Paradigm Shift for Physiotherapy Education

Training physiotherapists to a level where they can influence the standard of health care practice could be a complex process. Entry-level physiotherapy education in Ghana is a continuum between academic and clinical training during which they have to integrate the application and development of skills in communication, collaboration, advocatory and leadership. Self-directed learning is considered by many as one of the appropriate methodologies to allow practitioners to stay up-to-date and knowledgeable of the current literature. A teacher-centered approach is characterized by lecturing and hands-on skills training as the main or only way of facilitating student learning. Students who qualify as physiotherapists from teacher-centered tertiary institutions need to be self-directed life-long learners to be able to meet the demands of a complex work environment in the field of physiotherapy and professional health care delivery. The teacher-centered traditional approach to teaching and learning appears to be the predominant form of teaching among most universities in Ghana. Since a student-centered teaching approach has been widely recommended as the approach of choice, especially in the education of health care professionals, there is a need to determine if it is possible to design and implement physiotherapy based modules that include student-centered approaches such as Self-directed learning which may address minimal guidance that is usually associated with teacher centered tertiary training in Ghana. Keywords: Self-directed learning; teacher-centred; Physiotherapy, student-centredAbstract

SWOC analysis of e-learning educational services at Rawalpindi Medical University in the midst of COVID-19

Introduction: The SWOC (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges) analysis of e-learning at Rawalpindi Medical University during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted.
 Methods: This cross-sectional survey-based study using a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach was conducted at Rawalpindi Medical University in June 2020 through an online survey. Data were collected electronically from 400 undergraduate medical students and faculty members using online Google forms. The study was carried out after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board of Rawalpindi Medical University. Anonymity and confidentiality of data were maintained.
 Results: The salient features of e-learning at RMU was the establishment of prospect for remote learning in unprecedented circumstances and promotion of learner-centered, self-directed lifelong learning while the unavailability of internet and professional isolation was reported as a potential weakness, an opportunity provided by this platform was the introduction of blended learning programs and digital competence while potential challenges reported were conduction of valid, reliable and feasible e-assessment and strategies for teaching, learning, and assessment strategies for psychomotor and soft skills.
 Conclusion: In-depth analysis of e-learning during the midst of COVID-19 has made this evident that RMU is fully equipped and ready to cope up with any unforeseen event with regards to undergraduate medical education. There is startling need to develop infrastructure for long term sustainability and acceptability by availing opportunities, improving strength, and overcoming potential weaknesses and challenges.

Virtualios mokymo(si) aplinkos įtaka pradinių klasių mokinių matematikos mokymosi pasiekimams

Atsižvelgiant į pasaulyje vykstančius globalius pokyčius visose gyvenimo srityse atkreipiamas dėmesys, kad nūdienos mokinys turi išmokti mąstyti, kelti klausimus ir ieškoti atsakymų, susirasti reikiamą informaciją, ją atsirinkti ir pritaikyti. Atsirandant galimybei mokytis lanksčiau, naudojantis mobiliosiomis ir kompiuterinėmis technologijomis, virtualiomis mokymo(si) aplinkomis, būtina taikyti mokiniams patrauklias, pažangias mokymosi priemones, kurios padėtų plėtoti jų žinias, motyvuotų juos nuolat augti ir tobulėti, leistų ugdyti savivaldžio mokymosi visą gyvenimą principus.Siekiant ištirti virtualios mokymosi aplinkos „EDUKA klasė“ poveikį pradinių klasių mokinių matematikos pasiekimams, buvo vykdomas kvazieksperimentas. Tyrime dalyvavo 100 pirmos klasės mokinių. Mokiniai matematikos pamokose dirbo su „Taip!“ vadovėliu ir „EDUKA klasė“. Tyrimas vykdytas trimis etapais, kurių metu vyko pirmų klasių mokinių matematikos diagnostinis pažangos testavimas. Respondentai buvo testuojami tris kartus per visus einamuosius mokslo metus. Kvazieksperimentas, vertinant mokinių matematikos pažangą, vykdytas natūraliomis vaikams sąlygomis: tiriamieji tyrimo metu dirbo su savo klasės mokytoja, savo klasėje, kaip ir per kitas pamokas. Nustatyta, kad intensyviai integruojama virtuali mokymosi aplinka „EDUKA klasė“ į formalųjį ugdymą, matematikos dalyką, padarė reikšmingą poveikį mokinių matematiniams pasiekimams. Po kvazieksperimento statistiškai patikimai sumažėjo (p<0,05) skirtumas tarp pradinių ir galutinių rezultatų mokinių, turinčių patenkinamą pasiekimų lygmenį. Po tyrimo statistiškai reikšmingas skirtumas nustatytas (p<0,05) ir mokinių, turinčių aukštesnįjį pasiekimų lygmenį.

Graduate students’ attitudes & self-directed for lifelong learning in foreign language environment

The student’s attitude is needed to be self-directed learners to maintain lifelong learning in the ever-changing world. Thus, this study aimed to reveal whether graduate students’ self-directed skills and attitudes vary based on university type and gender. Also, this study explored the relationship between graduate students’ attitudes and self-directed lifelong learning skills then, further identified the lowest attitudes predictors for SDL, and analyzed how the students perceive the lecturer’s role in self-directed learning. In a mixed-method study, 92 students from two selected public universities took questionnaires to measure their attitudes and self-directed learning and four students involved in the semi-structured interview. The obtained results showed that SDL and attitudes were found not to vary based on the university type. However, gender made a significant difference in SDL in favour of female students. Then, attitudes variable statistically significantly predicted students’ SDL and perceptions of confidence and ability that emerged as the attitude dimension, seemed to be the lowest associated with the students’ SDL. The majority of the students are still unaware of the SDL behaviour and see the lecturer as a factor that decisively affects them in developing greater independence. Further theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Implementation of a Continuing Professional Development Course in a Longitudinal Didactic Curriculum for Pharmacy Students

Objective. To implement a continuous professional development (CPD) program in the didactic curriculum of a three-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, and evaluate associated outcomes. Methods. The initial CPD program was implemented in the didactic curriculum of the PharmD program in 2014-2015. Barriers were identified and strategies adopted to overcome the barriers. A revised CPD curriculum was implemented in the 2015-2016 academic year. Student and faculty evaluations of the course were conducted, and students' perceived capabilities in the various skills related to professional development were measured. Results. The student ratings of the course were acceptable (ranging from 3.3 to 4.2 on a 5-point Likert scale). First-year students rated the course higher than second-year students did. The majority of faculty members found the CPD curriculum valuable for students. Students perceived that their skills in oral, written and interprofessional communication, leadership, and time management had significantly improved after completing the course. Conclusion. Implementation of a CPD process during the didactic curriculum for PharmD students is feasible and beneficial to students' professional development. This CPD model provided students with an opportunity to develop self-directed lifelong learning skills and prepared them to transition to practice-based learning in their final year of the program.