Why is self-directed learning important?

Self-directed learning in its broadest meaning, describes a process in which individuals take the initiative with or without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulation of learning goals, identifying resources for learning, choosing and implementing learning strategies and evaluating learning outcomes. Thus, it is important to attain new knowledge easily and skillfully for the rest of his or her life.

What is the need for self-directed learning? One reason is that there is convincing evidence that people, who take the initiative in learning, learn more things and learn better than people waiting to be taught. The second reason is that self-directed learning is more in tune with our natural processes of psychological development: an essential aspect of maturing is developing the ability to take increasing responsibility for our own lives to become increasingly self-directed. The third reason is that many of the new developments in education put a heavy responsibility on the learners to take a good deal of initiative in their own learning. To meet the challenge in today's instructive environment, self-directed learning is most essential.