Engineering Commons^™

Role Of Faculty In Promoting Lifelong Learning: Characterizing Classroom Environments, Susan M. Lord, John Chen, Katharyn E. K. Nottis, Candice Stefanou, Michael J. Prince, Jonathon Stolk

Mechanical Engineering

Calls for educational reform emphasize the need for student-centered learning approaches that foster lifelong learning. To be a lifelong learner includes characteristics consistent with those of self-directed learners, such as being curious, motivated, reflective, analytical, persistent, flexible, and independent. Educational research has shown that the building of these aptitudes involves a complex interplay among nearly every aspect of human development. Instructor support of students’ self-directed learning (SDL) development relies on understanding and balancing these factors in the classroom. Engineering educators play a critical role in influencing outcomes related to SDL through their design of courses that support students’ transitions from …