Schools have evolved from the schoolhouse to the Internet.
Society and technology are changing rapidly and the self-directed learner adapts to the increasing demands. According to James Bosco of Western Michigan University, an employee's future depends on his ability to expand his skills. Open courseware is readily available on the Internet, yet in today's fast-paced society, it may be hard to find the time for self-directed learning. The following tips will help you set goals for lifelong learning to expand your skills.
Instructions
1. Make your goal specific. Saying that you want to learn French is not a specific goal because it can be interpreted different ways. For example, will your goal of learning French be accomplished when you can order a pastry in a Paris coffee shop or when you can have a conversation with a tour guide at the Louvre? Each scenario requires a different level of knowledge. Specific goals paint a picture of their completion.
2. Define your motivation. According to researchers Edwin A. Locke and Gary P. Latham, a goal is effective when it has a clear purpose. For example, if your goal is to complete the assigned readings for the writing and humanistic studies listed in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's open courseware, your clear purpose might be to become a better writer. Keeping your motivation in mind will help you accomplish your goal.
3. Divide your long-term goal into several short-term goals. According to Dr. Dale Schunk of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, short-term goals lead to higher motivation than a large goal that looks into the distant future. If you are a business manager who wants to take advantage of free online courses, you could create sub-goals for each university's course.
4. Schedule self-appraisals. Locke and Latham also point out that performance reviews are essential to goal completion. Since you are making goals of self-directed learning, you do not have the benefit of teacher feedback. Instead, you can schedule self-reviews during which you assess your progress and consider what improvements you can make.
5. Plan for difficulties. Schunk suggests developing strategies to cope with adversity before problems arise. You may be setting goals for self-directed learning to succeed at your job. Yet, it may be demands at work that hinder your progress. Decide deal with these problems before they arise to keep your goals on track and your life in balance.
