Background: Online learning has become more prevalent over the past three decades, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators and scholars have increasingly emphasized the significance of self-directed learning (SDL) on successful learning outcomes in online learning environments. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to synthesize the…

The past ten years have witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of online courses, and the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly accelerated online education. Many students and instructors were unprepared for online learning. In particular, online learners are expected to employ self-directed learning (SDL) skills to succeed. This qualitative study…

Self-directed learning (SDL) is necessary for successful learning in MOOCs. Motivation is one of the critical elements of SDL. This mixed-method study examined the design and delivery of MOOCs to motivate learners for SDL. The data collection methods included semi-structured interviews with 22 MOOC instructors, a document review of 22 MOOCs, and…

The study investigated how adolescent students in Nepal explored massive open online learning courses (MOOCs) in a self-directed learning manner. It used a qualitative approach by conducting 13 individual interviews with these youth. Findings suggest that Nepali adolescent MOOC learners are strongly motivated by natural curiosity toward learning…

Purpose: We describe a series of more than a dozen studies on self-directed online learning spanning over a decade. Design/Approach/Methods: We incorporated surveys, interviews, focus groups, and content analyses into these research studies, which initially targeted the goals, motivations, and challenges of learners using open educational…