FLIPPED LEARNING TO FOSTER STUDENTS’ SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING: A STUDY OF FIRST YEAR STUDENTS’ SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING COMPETENCIES

A key goal of higher education is to cultivate self-directed, lifelong learners who can adapt to dynamic industry demands through continuous skill refinement and learning. To support this goal, Singapore Polytechnic has implemented Flipped Learning across all its programs. This learner-centered approach requires students to engage with online materials independently, fostering responsibility for preparation and understanding. By promoting essential Self-Directed Learning (SDL) skills, Flipped Learning equips students for academic success and lifelong adaptability. In 2023, the institution launched a study to evaluate the impact of Flipped Learning on students’ SDL development over three years (2023 – 2026). Using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire and student interviews, this paper presents early findings of the study involving 1188 first year students, revealing that the institution’s first year students perceive flipped learning as beneficial, feel confident in their learning abilities, and adopt strategies like checking with peers and looking for resources. These findings aim to promote understanding of Flipped Learning’s role in developing SDL in higher education and provide actionable insights for educators and policymakers.