When is Self-Directed Learning Right for Corporate Training and Development?

Self-directed learning is any process or system that allows individual learners to direct their own learning, depending on their individual needs and interests. Self-directed learning can include tools for learners to discover their learning needs, set goals, find content to meet those goals, get feedback, and discover new topics.

So why on earth would a company want to allow self-directed learning for its own corporate training?

For some companies, the answer might be obvious. But for many, it is not. In my years of talking to companies of about eLearning and Learning Management Systems, I have found that many training departments want control over the training process. They want to ensure that employees are getting the training they need (especially when it comes to compliance and job-specific training) and not getting “bogged down” in learning extra material meant for other departments or roles.