Rapid development in the 21st century has had an enormous effect on students’ learning needs.  Students require lifelong learning skills to help them keep up with the changing world.  Since 2012, this school has set self-directed learning as a school development focus, as there is room for students to improve their lifelong learning skills and teachers also need professional support in this area. The school regards self-directed learning as both a goal and a process to enhance students’ capacity in taking responsibility for their learning. It is hoped that students can develop not only ownership of their learning but also their capabilities in self-management, self-monitoring and applying their learning from one context to another.

Self-directed learning is both a process and a goal.  As a process, it does not simply mean asking students to work on their own (Gorman, 1998; Kesten, 1987; Knight, 1996). The English teachers of this school saw the need to develop a shared understanding of self-directed learning.  To ensure panel members “speak the same language”, a core team to study the “what” and “how” of self-directed learning was established.