Self-directed learning

Identify what needs to be learned and take an active role in planning how to learn it.

Why it matters

Choosing what to learn and how to approach it gives learning a clear purpose. Taking an active role can include asking for guidance or finding a suitable resource; it does not mean learning alone.

What this can look like

• identifies a gap in knowledge or skill relevant to a goal
• chooses a resource or approach suited to that need
• sets a realistic next learning step

Youth relevance

Starting a course, training placement or volunteering role can reveal something unfamiliar. Young people can decide what they need to learn next and choose an approach, with guidance where useful.

Ways young people can practise this skill

• identify something they want or need to learn and choose how to approach it
• compare resources for learning the same thing
• set a personal learning goal and review progress

Connected themes

• Main theme · Learning to learn
• Entrepreneurship