ABSTRACT
The previous chapters have demonstrated how the case story authors used a variety of resources to achieve the science and technology learning they needed to resolve their personal challenges. In this chapter, the uses of 11 kinds of resources are summarised in terms of the features which made them useful or not so useful. The resources are: books and other print media; television programs; Internet information; social media; experts in the field; taking courses; teachers, mentors, and role models; educational institutions such as museums; peers, friends, and colleagues; clubs; and personal resources. The nature and use of these resources are discussed in five clusters: media, including print, television, and Internet; people, including experts, friends, and peers; course-taking and teachers, including e-learning and MOOCs; visits to educational institutions; and personal resources. The discussion is illustrated with examples drawn from the case stories and focuses on self-directed learning and how these resources can be most useful to adult learners. The key personal characteristics for self-directed learning are identified; they are motivation, knowing how to engage with resources, and positive self-efficacy. These characteristics are explored fully in Chapter 10.
