College learning in Asian countries has been highly structured and mandated. For example, students are asked to complete a series of required courses, attend weekly face-to-face lectures, and take summative midterms and finals. However, traditional practices are unlikely to prepare self-directed learners to meet future challenges. Partly supported…

There is in higher education a powerful discourse of "independent learning". While there may be pedagogical rationales to support the desirability of increased independence at the tertiary stage, it may also serve other institutional agendas, such as functioning as a way for academic staff to "manage" the frustrations…

Unsuccessful college education often turns our students into book haters who will stop reading as soon as they graduate. The idea of literature circles embraces the concept of "reading for fun" and is intended to create more independent readers and book addicts who will continuously read for the rest of their lives. Pioneers in literacy…