title: Why self-directed learning is not learned and practiced in veterinary education.
abstract: Veterinary education as it is frequently implemented creates numerous impediments for the majority of students to achieve self-directed learning. Self-directed learning is a state in which the student is prepared to engage in learning activities defined by him- or herself. Essential components of veterinary education (i.e., curriculum and assessment) inhibit the development of self-directed learning in many ways. This article will make suggestions on how we can promote self-directed learning within traditional veterinary education and discuss how teaching based upon the principles of problem-based learning (PBL) may foster self-directed learning.
authors.affiliation: Teaching and Learning Center at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, 600 S. 43rd St., Box 68, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. p.blumbe@usip.edu
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blumberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004520:Education, Veterinary / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic