Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research

Discussion Series

How Learning Works: 7 Research-based Principles for Smart Teaching

Ambrose, S., Bridges, M., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M., & Norman, M. (2010)


Chapter 7: How Do Students Become Self-Directed Learners?
      Facilitator: Barbara Bekken, Geosciences

Chapter Summary: Learners may engage in a variety of metacognitive processes to monitor and control their learning – assessing the task at hand, evaluating their own strengths and weaknesses, planning their approach, applying and monitoring various strategies, and reflecting on the degree to which their current approach is working. Unfortunately, students tend not to engage in these processes naturally. When students develop the skills to engage these processes, they gain intellectual habits that not only improve their performance but also their effectiveness as learners. (Ambrose et al., 2010, p. 6)

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Discussion Summary







What is the
Discussion Series?

The Discussion Series is designed to provide the time and space for faculty members to come together, share, discuss, and apply research-based instructional ideas and strategies in an informal atmosphere.




Principles from
How Learning Works

Main Page

Ch 1: Prior Knowledge
Ch 2: Organization
Ch 3: Motivation
Ch 4: Mastery
Ch 5: Feedback
Ch 6: Development
Ch 7: Self-Direction