Perspectives on Technology and Teaching in Self-Directed Learning

Self-directed learning in the digital age encompasses the roles of technology and teaching in achieving the best learning outcomes. Using evocative autoethnography, the purpose of this paper is to explore the nuances of online learning during a period of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a reflection of the personal stories of the researcher-participant drawn heavily from the recollection of previous experiences as fragments of memory that are explored and analyzed within the framework of the self and the surrounding culture. In my reflection, I indicated that technology is both neutral and value-laden and aids in honing the critical thinking skills of online students. At the same time, the teacher as facilitator promotes interactive communication, guiding students to become fully responsible and adaptable knowledge creators The global reach of online learning solidifies interconnectedness and intellectual mobility placing emphasis on technological affordances and teaching capacities as hallmarks of a globalized education.