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Abstract: Initiatives such as blended learning, experiential learning, and learning styles models have been applied in the face to face classroom and online classroom for decades. Not all of these strategies have been successful in identification of student motivation or showing student learning because the courses are predicative, and static. The courses become less desirable for both adults and young adults as they can learn topics in micro-learning platform, bite sized content from YouTube or other open learning platforms. Universities that utilize online learning as their primary mode of delivery need to explore opportunities for flexibly of content and student engagement. In 2018, a Walden University Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program began a program update to address the issue of student flexibility and ways of improving assessment of learning. Taking a self-directed learning approach to complex topics within the program content courses allows the students to explore the content in a personal meaningful way, allows students to take control of their learning and find ways to improve their intrinsic learning capacity. By allowing flexibility in student learning, this can cause difficulties in assessing the student learning outcomes for the course and program. Students using a self-directed learning approach should be assessed utilizing controlled variables that are embedded with the curriculum, implementation of feedback received, and reflection of the student learning process. This paper and poster will outline a case study that provides context to why andragogy is critical at graduate level learning and inspiring student creativity and building skills that serve students as their work environments demand independence and critical thinking capacity. This work unique, innovative, and has the potential to support student development at all levels of learning. Given the generational differences and the desire for micro-learning, this case study encourages self-directed learning, intrinsic motivation, and new methods of assessment.
Keyword: self directed learning, assessment, andragogy, online learning, instructional model, peer feedback
1.Background of study
1.1 Online instruction
Online and blended modalities have released education to the most adaptive, accessible, and customizable periods in education. With the shift of traditional institutions to the online learning environment, institutions struggle with creating online experiences that engage students in the learning process and validate student learning outcomes. In some cases the application of blended e-learning is...