Keys To Success: Self Directed Learning

Every study of engineering education and the skills required of practicing engineers lists lifelong learning (LLL) as a necessary ingredient. And yet, there has been little developed in the way of formal preparation for engineering students so that they will become life-long learners. In fact, the loaded curriculum presented in most engineering programs works against developing the learning skills and love of learning required to be a successful LLL. Students do not have time to reflect on what they are learning or to explore personal interests through elective courses while in college. The seeds of effective LLL must be sown at the beginning of the program if the college experience is going to support this type of development in engineering students. This paper describes activities being introduced in the DTeC course at Binghamton University (BU) and the engineering science program at Broome Community College (BCC) to start students on the path toward becoming self-directed learners (SDL), the key to LLL.