Today's students are 21st century learners. As a 21st century learner, "self-direction" is a characteristic that our students must possess. Much of the 21st learning is done using technology and other mediums which requires students to think for themselves and determine their next steps.
In the classroom, Self Direction can look like choices. Giving students choices on what kind of assignment or assessment to do in order to show you what they have learned can go a long way in helping them self direct. As teachers, many of us don't want to give up that kind of control over our students, but providing those choices can increase student engagement in the assignment and really allow a student to open up and show you what they really learned.
IDEAS FOR SELF DIRECTED ASSIGNMENTS:
A list taken from "Overcoming Textbook Fatigue"
In the classroom, Self Direction can look like choices. Giving students choices on what kind of assignment or assessment to do in order to show you what they have learned can go a long way in helping them self direct. As teachers, many of us don't want to give up that kind of control over our students, but providing those choices can increase student engagement in the assignment and really allow a student to open up and show you what they really learned.
IDEAS FOR SELF DIRECTED ASSIGNMENTS:
A list taken from "Overcoming Textbook Fatigue"
- Select a section of the text to read and jigsaw
- Let students choose from a variety of assessment possibilities that will best let them show you what they know
- Let the student choose the type of text they would like to read in order to learn of the topic in class that day
- Students choose from a variety of graphic organizers or notetaking strategies that makes the most sense to them
- Let the student find an example in their text or in real life to support an inference or fact
- Have students write questions they would like to ask about the chapter or topic
- Students choose the due dates for assignments, especially projects