ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the phenomenon of self-direction in learning, which has become a way of life for a great many people. Self-direction in learning has played an important, though sometimes easy to overlook, role in history. The idea of self-education or taking responsibility for one’s own learning is clearly rooted in history, and the current popularity of self-directed learning reflects the adult education field’s deliberate effort to embrace these values and incorporate them into the mainstream of practice. The chapter discusses the myths or misconceptions regarding self-direction in learning. These myths have often added to the confusion over the meaning of self-direction and its implications for adult education practice. The chapter presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book.
