This session highlights a pilot Innovation Cohort project designated to develop educators’ capacity to implement the five-step process for supporting students in Self-Directed Learning (SDL), cultivate teacher leadership, and foster a networked learning community that extends beyond traditional district boundaries. Self-Directed Learning (SDL) is a dynamic instructional strategy that fosters student autonomy by encouraging learners to take charge of their learning process. Malcolm Knowles's five-step model includes: Diagnosing learning needs, Establishing learning goals, Identifying resources, Choosing strategies, and Assessing outcomes.
In this session, participants will explore practical applications of SDL through classroom examples that can be utilized within a single class period and/or embedded across a unit of study. By intentionally teaching students how to use each component of Knowles’s model, teachers can cultivate independence, strengthen problem-solving skills, and encourage meaningful ownership of learning. Integrating SDL into instruction empowers students to become adaptable, resourceful learners who are better prepared to navigate both academic and real-world challenges.
Navigator for Learning in the Professions, Appalachian State University
Dr. Jessie Peterson is a Navigator for Learning in the Professions in the Office of Rural Promise Appalachian State University. She is also an Adjunct Instructor of Music at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. She holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from Clemson University, an M.M... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:10am - 11:10am EDT Elm Room 211 B
