Promoting Self-directed Learning Using Virtual Patient Cases
Promoting Self-directed Learning Using Virtual Patient Cases
Self-directed learning personalizes education to the learning needs of the individual, while motivating students to develop autonomy related to the learning endeavor. Self-directed learning skills are a necessity for life-long learners, a vital component to critical-thinking, an essential for graduates of higher education, and a characteristic that should be thought to exist in every person. Educational technologies may provide educators a means of implementing teaching methods that facilitate learning, while instilling a sense of professionalism, critical thinking, and self-directedness consistent with contemporary practitioners and adult learners. Through virtual patient cases and large group discussion, this project met the expectations of the millennial student, facilitated learning and knowledge retention, successfully replaced passive instruction with active learning, provided on-demand curricular content to students, enhanced the teaching mission of the schools, and aligned with accreditation standards and educational outcomes established for the health sciences.
Summary
Self-directed learning personalizes education to the learning needs of the individual, while motivating students to develop autonomy related to the learning endeavor. Self-directed learning skills are a necessity for life-long learners, a vital component to critical-thinking, an essential for graduates of higher education, and a characteristic that should be thought to exist in every person. Educational technologies may provide educators a means of implementing teaching methods that facilitate learning, while instilling a sense of professionalism, critical thinking, and self-directedness consistent with contemporary practitioners and adult learners. Through virtual patient cases and large group discussion, this project met the expectations of the millennial student, facilitated learning and knowledge retention, successfully replaced passive instruction with active learning, provided on-demand curricular content to students, enhanced the teaching mission of the schools, and aligned with accreditation standards and educational outcomes established for the health sciences.
