The Advantages and Disadvantages of Self Directed Learning: A Survey Study of Saudi Medical Students

Abstract

This article was migrated. The article was not marked as recommended. AimTo evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of self-directed learning (SDL) to Saudi medical Students. We hypothesize SDL is advantageous and effective teaching tool in Saudi medical college curricula.MethodA dichotomy survey was circulated and collected manually among medical students in Taif and Jeddah (King Abdul Aziz, and King Khalid medical colleges) respectively. Students of third, fifth and sixth academic years were randomly selected, they were asked to point out the advantages and disadvantages of SDL, whether it was better than other teaching tools including Team Based Learning (TBL), and their recommendations to including it in all modules. It is a cross-section qualitative study. ResultA total of 113 students responded to the survey 69 (61.1%) males and 44 (38.9%) females.The advantages of SDL were in free selecting of sources, topics, time, space and time management were 23.3%, 27.9%, 7.6%, 20.9%, and 20.3% respectively, while the disadvantages were the difficulties in selecting sources and materials, accessing guide/tutor, time wastage, and language barrier in that order were 21.3%, 29.4%, 16.3%, 20.6% and 12.5% in that order, 21.1% saw it as a helpful teaching tool, 33.6% recommended it, while 4.4% suggested the inclusion 61-80% of SDL per module.The overall accumulated advantages and disadvantages was 30.4% and 28.3% respectivelyResults showed no difference between the advantages and disadvantage of SDL [ꭓ2(1) = 140.4, p < .001]ConclusionMost of the students under study were not in favour of SDL, indicating dearth in the concept of its objectives and advantages, probably a reflection of the defect in pre-college education system. We suggest faculty members development will create cognization and inure students with DSL.