scholarly journals Understanding the Level of Self-Directed Learning and Decision-Making Style of Construction-Related Workers

Author(s):  
Norhazren Izatie Mohd ◽  
Kherun Nita Ali ◽  
Shirin Shafiei Ebrahimi ◽  
Ahmad Faiz Azizi Ahmad Fauzi

<p class="0abstract">Current serious game framework still lacks in fulfilling the user's requirements.  This is due to the framework elements which only focus on the process of delivery.  Hence, this study was carried out to determine user’s ability in self-directed learning and their styles in making a decision.  This study forms part of a larger research on a framework for serious game frameworks for hazard identification training modules.  A set of questionnaire consisting of three sections which are demographic, decision-making styles and levels of self-directed learning was designed.  In decision-making styles, 49 items are measured representing eight styles in decision making such as vigilant, dependent, avoidant, anxious, confident, spontaneous, brooding and intuitive.  Meanwhile, a self-rating scale consisting of 50 items was used to measure the level of self-directed learning such as awareness, learning strategies, learning activities, evaluation and interpersonal skills.  Data was collected from 319 construction-related workers and analysed using mean comparison and ANOVA.  Findings confirmed that their style of decision-making is inclined to ‘vigilant’ and ‘brooding’ types.  The results revealed two levels of self-directed learning, namely, the moderate level for supervisor and high level for general workers, skilled workers, consultants, management teams and safety trainees.  This level of self-directed learning is influenced by their level of education and working experiences.  The findings also highlight that decision-making style has a moderate relationship with the level of self-directed learning among construction-related workers.  The study contributes to the understanding of the construction workers' needs in enhancing their skills in becoming independent and lifelong learners</p>

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-520
Author(s):  
Nor Hafizah Adnan ◽  
Siti Shakirah Sayadi

Self-directed learning among students, particularly at the upper secondary level, is still underexplored in Malaysia. Further understanding of ESL students’ readiness for self-directed learning in improving English writing skills is crucial to exploit the advantages of this learning method for their benefit. Thus, this study aimed to examine the levels of self-directedness among secondary school students and their readiness to apply self-directed learning in improving English writing skills through a survey design. A total of 50 ESL students in a secondary school responded to two sets of questionnaires that measured different variables in this research. The first questionnaire included a self-rating scale of self-directed learning, which consisted of awareness, learning strategies, learning activities, evaluation, and interpersonal skills. The second questionnaire contained questions about students’ readiness for self-directed learning in improving English writing skills. Sampling was done randomly without considering students’ academic level of English. The findings found that most students possessed a medium level of self-directedness with not much difference with the high-level ones. The study then revealed a positive relationship between students’ level of self-directedness and students’ readiness to incorporate self-directed learning in English writing skills. For instance, students with a high level of self-directedness scored higher in students’ readiness for self-directed learning in improving English writing skills than those with a low level of self-directedness. Future studies should consider self-directed learning strategies to promote lifelong effects of positive attributes towards learning experiences, such as discipline, attention, responsible, and creativity in planning learning objectives.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Hafizah Adnan ◽  
Siti Shakirah Sayadi

Self-directed learning among students, particularly at the upper secondary level, is still underexplored in Malaysia. Further understanding of ESL students’ readiness for self-directed learning in improving English writing skills is crucial to exploit the advantages of this learning method for their benefit. Thus, this study aimed to examine the levels of self-directedness among secondary school students and their readiness to apply self-directed learning in improving English writing skills through a survey design. A total of 50 ESL students in a secondary school responded to two sets of questionnaires that measured different variables in this research. The first questionnaire included a self-rating scale of self-directed learning, which consisted of awareness, learning strategies, learning activities, evaluation, and interpersonal skills. The second questionnaire contained questions about students’ readiness for self-directed learning in improving English writing skills. Sampling was done randomly without considering students’ academic level of English. The findings found that most students possessed a medium level of self-directedness with not much difference with the high-level ones. The study then revealed a positive relationship between students’ level of self-directedness and students’ readiness to incorporate self-directed learning in English writing skills. For instance, students with a high level of self-directedness scored higher in students’ readiness for self-directed learning in improving English writing skills than those with a low level of self-directedness. Future studies should consider self-directed learning strategies to promote lifelong effects of positive attributes towards learning experiences, such as discipline, attention, responsible, and creativity in planning learning objectives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Prachita Walankar ◽  
Vrushali Panhale

Self-directed learning (SDL) is an essential element in medical education to foster lifelong learning. Self-directed learning readiness is the extent to which an individual has the attitude, ability, skill and personality characteristics essential for SDL. This study aimed to analyze self-directed learning readiness among physiotherapy students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 288 undergraduate physiotherapy students using Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning (SRSSDL) to assess self-directed learning readiness. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 21. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. A total 288 participants, 143(49.65%) were in preclinical phase and 145 (50.35%) in clinical phase. Out of 288 physiotherapy students, 60.76% students had moderate level, followed by 37.5% with high level and 1.74% with low level of SDL readiness. The total SRSSDL score was higher in clinical students as compared to preclinical students using independent t test (p=0.000). Also, subscale scores of SRSSDL, awareness (p=0.000), learning strategies (p=0.000), learning activities (p=0.000), evaluation (p=0.000) and interpersonal skills (p=0.04) were higher in clinical students as compared to preclinical students using independent t test. The study showed that physiotherapy students had moderate level of SDL readiness. The SDL readiness was found to be higher in clinical students as compared to preclinical. It will assist the medical educators to incorporate more active learning strategies to enhance SDL skills and help in curriculum development. Keywords: Self-directed learning, physical therapists, medical education, students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Intan Febry Sulasiwi ◽  
Supriyono Koes Handayanto ◽  
Wartono Wartono

This study aims to develop a valid and reliable self-rating scale instrument for measuring Self-Directed Learning (SDL) skills. This DDI study follows the steps of Hinkin’s development (1995) which consists of five stages: creating an item pool, expert conclusion, implementation, confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability analysis. The self-rating scale developed in this study consisted of sixty statements accompanied by a 1-5 Likert scale. Based on the factors analysis, 16 items were still in the draft and 44 items were declared valid and reliable. Five factors that are determined are: awareness (8 items, α = 0.717), learning strategies (9 items, α = 0.806), and learning activities (7 items, α = 0.777), evaluation (8 items, α = 0.790), and interpersonal skills (12 items, α = 0.907). The reliability coefficient (Cronbach Alpha) of the self-rating scale is α = 0.933, with the required reliability criteria is 0.5. On a scale conversion of 1-100, the student’s highest score of SDL skills is 93, and the lowest score SDL skills are 31 (SD = 20.334).


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (Number 2) ◽  
pp. 55-81
Author(s):  
Abu Bakar Razali ◽  
Lim Ying Xuan ◽  
Arshad Abd. Samad

Purpose – In the field of second language education, self-directed learning is really important as it can empower students to attain optimal success in language learning by engaging students to express their ideas confidently, think reflectively and make use of language learning strategies. The main aim of the present study is to investigate students’ self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) in a foundation program in a public university in Malaysia so as to find out how they perceive this approach can improve their learning of the English language at tertiary level. More specifically, the researchers intend to find answers to these research questions: 1) Are foundation students ready to use self-directed learning strategies in English Language learning? (i.e. awareness, motivation and language learning strategies); 2) Is there a significant difference in the three attributes (i.e., awareness, motivation and language learning strategies) of self-directed learning among foundation students?; and 3) Is there a significant difference between English language proficiency (upper and lower) and the three attributes (i.e., awareness, motivation, language learning strategies) in using self-directed learning strategies? Methodology – A set of survey questionnaires with a 6-point Likert scale were administered to 400 students attending an English proficiency course (i.e., Introduction to Academic English) in the first semester of the Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science program. The data of the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and paired samples t-test. Findings – Results revealed that the respondents have a rather high degree of readiness to apply self-directed learning strategies in learning English. Motivation has the highest mean scores (M=4.57), followed by language learning strategies (M=4.41) and awareness (M=4.34). Results also showed that there are no difference in terms of SDLR depending on English proficiency levels, namely lower level (MUET Bands 1,2,3) and upper level (MUET Bands 4,5) (p>.05). Significance – The findings are beneficial for students to learn more about their readiness to apply the self-directed learning strategies. In particular, these findings also provide insights for lecturers, program administrators, curriculum developers, and policy makers to plan and implement suitable teaching methods, course outlines, and curricula for the development of the students’ English language abilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1263-1268
Author(s):  
Namu Koirala ◽  
Shyam P Kafle

Introduction: Self-directed learning is one of the concepts of learning which is mostly used in higher education, especially in the discipline of medicine and paramedics. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the self-directed learning readiness of the undergraduate nursing students and to find out its association with selected demographic variables. Methodology: A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study was undertaken among undergraduate nursing students from three nursing colleges of Eastern Nepal; from January 2019 to August 2020. The nursing colleges were randomly selected; one constituent nursing college and two colleges affiliated to Purbanchal University. Census sampling method was adopted and 565 students were enrolled. Ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Review Committee of the institute. Data was collected using a self administered, valid and standard tool: Williamson's Self Rating Scale for Self-directed Learning (SRSSDL) via online google forms, then transferred to Microsoft EXCEL. Data analysis was done using SPSS 16.0 version. Mean, median, standard deviation, range, chi-square test, Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis H test were used for data analysis. Result: Overall Self-directed Learning score was 244.83±30.15. The majority of the respondents (79.3%) had high scores of SRSSDL (221-300) and 20.7% of the respondents had moderate levels of SRSSDL (141-220). The demographic variables didn't exert any significant effect on the overall level of SRSSDL but varied only with the sub-dimensions of SRSSDL. Conclusion: This study shows that overall self-directed learning among nursing students is moderate to high and the subdimensions have significant associations with demographics and academic level.


Author(s):  
Ronda Cypret-Mahach

This chapter describes transformational experiences of a faculty of teachers during a yearlong action-research case-study of professional development, infused with digital technologies intended to capitalize on self-directed learning strategies, in the use of essential questions specifically designed to target critical thinking in students. Teachers who began to adopt the essence of essential questioning into their teaching practice also began to seek ways to engage in personalized self-directed learning as they looked for avenues to continue development of successful practice. The ability to self-investigate and self-delineate pedagogy was critical for most of participant teachers. The faculty of teachers involved in the action-research case-study demonstrated statistically significant growth on the Measure of Questioning Skills, indicating the experience encouraged teacher growth in questioning abilities. Research data also reflected statistically significant student growth in STAR Reading and STAR Math scores, and an increase in student's Measure of Questioning Skills.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Hilda _ Yustitiasari

Abstract Language learning strategies (LLS) are perceived as tools for teacher to educate the learners behave self-directed learning. It also known, improving language proficient. In the case of vocational college students, they practically use self-directed learning in learning English outside classroom since they should pass the TOEFL test after the internship as the requirement of graduation. Hereby, this study identifies: (1) the frequently language learning strategy used by vocational college learners, (2) the relationship between language learning strategy and English proficiency, (3) the strategy used by learners which could predict learners proficient. The participant is 52 students of Politeknik Kota Malang in 2016- 2017 academic year which done the TOEFL test and willing to complete the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL). This study employed quantitative approach and correlational research as the research design to identify the relationship between variables. There are six strategies of language learning strategies by Oxford (1990) as the independent variables (predictors) and English proficiency (criterion) as the dependent variable. Therefore, multiple regression analysis employed in this study. The result showed that metacognitive strategy reported highly used by learners. While compensation, cognitive, social strategies reported medium used by learners. The low strategy used was affective and memory strategies. Although, language learning strategy cannot simultaneously predict the English proficiency there is one strategy that can be used to predict English proficiency, namely compensation strategy. Keywords: Language Learning Strategies, EFL Learners, English Proficiency.


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