In order to have a democratic society, equal rights to education are assumed. A democratic society needs citizens who are willing and able to commit themselves to lifelong learning--self-directed individual learning as well as collective learning. Learning in real life, although different for various people, can be seen as encompassing five steps:…

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) is one of Thailand's two official open universities. STOU has no on-campus classes. Instead, it offers self-instructional packages in a distance education format and conducts optional tutorials in local study centers throughout Thailand. STOU's curriculum, which is designed to provide educational…

Acknowledging a recent increased interest in research about self-directed learning, this report analyzes and discusses two different forms of education: self-directed learning and distance education. Here, self-directed learning is identical with autodidactic learning, a form of education that cannot be included in organized adult education; the…

Part two of the final report on the adult independent learning program focuses on the following: (1) discussion of the 11 data collection categories developed to meet the information needs of specific groups--advisors working with adult learners, planners monitoring service performance, library policy decision makers responsible for determining…

Materials intended to serve as the basis for a three semester hour course in methods and materials of instruction in adult basic education (ABE) are presented. The materials are designed for several instructional approaches. They may be used self-instructionally, either as independent units or as a collective group of units. When the units are…

Traditional educational design methods take little account of individual learner's needs and learning processes. Effective design involves overcoming internal forces that oppose the educator's learning goals. Self-directed learning principles and practices work selectively with the learner's own needs and motives, strengthening confidence and…

The extent and distribution of self-reported learning activities in the current Canadian adult population was estimated on the basis of data collected during a 1998 telephone survey of a sample of 1,562 Canadian adults. Random digital dialing was used to give all provinces, households, and individuals within households an equal chance of…

Identifies the distance education learner, examines the approaches and teaching models of various educational theorists to the satisfaction of learners' needs, and relates these approaches particularly to the field of distance education. An extensive bibliography is provided. (EAO)

Describes public library services in England that provide open learning materials, appropriate computer hardware, and trained staff for adult independent education. Topics include mentoring by community librarians, development of a learning environment, support for learners, links with other organizations, and fees. (LRW)

Discusses the curriculum objectives, typical student, and degree programs of Empire State College. Nontraditional course selection is possible since each student designs his/her own degree program and completes it through independent study. Programs of these non-traditional students have professional content, but the anthropological content is not…

Describes four vehicles for continuing education in the People's Republic of China: correspondence education, broadcast and television education, self-study and state examinations, and the workers' college. Considers the special characteristics of each system. (DMM)

Based on a second language learning workshop that was a follow-up to the 1990 British conference, "Autonomy in Language Learning," at the Lane End conference center, this report covers the practical implications of the ideas that emerged at the conference. The continuum that encompasses learner autonomy and autonomous learning is…

This guide presents state policies and procedures for all types of off-campus instruction delivered by Colorado institutions. Instruction may be offered at off-campus locations, at other institutions' campuses, or delivered to students via the mails or electronic media. Part A provides an introduction, while Part B considers general policies…

Self-directed learning has been a high-interest topic within the field of adult education for the last decade. The following are among suggestions writers have made about how adult educators can best facilitate self-directed learning: (1) encourage learners to appreciate that they can act on their world individually or collectively to transform…

The self-directed learning guide consists of three parts: The Learner, The Teacher, and Learning Resources. Part 1 contains four inquiry projects which examine the importance of self-directed learning, its assumptions, required competencies, and learning plan design. The nature of the inquiry between author and teacher in Part 2 is to explore the…