Self-Directed Learning Spanning Contexts

lilaholt
11 minutes ago
2 min read

Sponsored by the International Society for Self-Directed Learning (ISSDL), this webinar brings together Florida State University–affiliated scholars to explore how self-directed learning (SDL) operates across very different, fast-changing contexts—from teacher preparation and nursing education to cybersecurity, game development, and adjunct faculty work in behavior analysis. Panelists compare what “self-teaching” looks like in practice, why SDL becomes essential when technology, policy, and workload outpace formal training, and how learners can move beyond haphazard problem-solving toward deliberate, model-informed approaches. The conversation clarifies what SDL is (and isn’t), distinguishes it from informal or self-regulated learning, and highlights frameworks—such as Knowles’ adult learning perspective and the CAST (Context-Aware Self-Teaching) model—that make SDL a trainable, repeatable skill grounded in goal-setting, context analysis, resource selection, practice, help-seeking, and evaluation.

Attendees leave with actionable ideas to spark motivation, scaffold time management and self-regulation, and build supportive communities that turn “figure-it-out” moments into sustained, evidence-based learning habits. The session also points to continuing ISSDL opportunities—including upcoming webinars and the annual Cocoa Beach conference—for deeper exchange and collaboration.

Moderator

Bret Staudt Willet (FSU) — Assistant Professor studying SDL across professions (e.g., teachers, game developers, healthcare workers) and how people design and navigate their own learning environments.

Speakers

Vania Aguilar (FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights) — Doctorate recently completed; researches SDL in pre-service elementary teachers preparing to teach English Language Learners and how policy shifts shape language and school culture for immigrant and refugee families.
Sudeshna Aich (State Board of Administration; FSU EdD candidate) — Cybersecurity professional and IT audit manager examining how adult learning and SDL theories can structure rapid upskilling amid shifting tech, threat, and compliance landscapes.
Anika Costa (The Operant Teacher; Adjunct at Endicott College & Mary Baldwin University; FSU doctoral candidate) — OBM/ABA specialist studying how behavior-analysis adjunct faculty use SDL to bridge instructional readiness gaps in fast-growing online programs.
Nina Davis (FSU College of Nursing; EdD Cohort 6) — BSN academic advisor focused on applying SDL strategies (time management, self-regulation, confidence building) to help students translate compressed coursework into safe, competent clinical practice.
Zhongyu (Zhong Yu) Wang (FSU, PhD student, Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies) — Researches SDL, collaborative learning, and learner perceptions of AI; applies the CAST model to understand how game-development roles plan goals, practice, seek help, and evaluate progress.