SDL (Self-Directed Learning). I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Most educational institutions from Secondary to Tertiary education have started to enforce it extensively in recent years. But why now? And how effective really is SDL?

How it started

 The concept of Self-Directed Learning (SDL) has long been recognized as an essential skill for lifelong learning. However, its integration into Singapore’s education system took a significant leap forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, educational institutions across the globe faced unprecedented challenges. In Singapore, schools had to pivot rapidly to home-based learning (HBL) to ensure that students could continue their education amidst lockdowns and social distancing measures. This sudden shift marked a turning point for SDL, as students were compelled to take greater ownership of their learning processes.

Before the pandemic, SDL was promoted through structured classroom activities and enrichment programs. However, the transition to HBL pushed SDL into the spotlight. I was only 14 years-old at the time when COVID-19 approached our shores. I can remember my Sec 2 self feeling extremely worried and uncomfortable as that was probably the first time I had to don a face mask. In the first few weeks when COVID-19 had just started spreading, we still had face-to-face lessons daily. The infection cases spread like wildfire and inevitably there came a point where the government had to take measures, spurring the “Circuit Breaker”. That day, our education system took a step forward in the right direction. Education for students had to resume as per normal so schools turned to online platforms such as google classroom, google meet and zoom. SDL was challenging for us as we had to:

1. Plan and Manage Our Time

Without the physical presence of teachers, we had to independently organize our daily schedules and keep up with our assignments.

2. Seek Resources Actively

Many students turned to online platforms, digital libraries, and peer discussions to supplement their learning.

3. Adapt to Technology

 Schools leveraged platforms like the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS), where students could access learning materials and assignments at their own pace.

Post-Pandemic: Embedding SDL into the Curriculum

As Singapore transitioned back to in-person learning, the Ministry of Education (MOE) recognized the long-term value of SDL and rightly so. Today, SDL is a cornerstone of the Learn for Life movement, which aims to nurture resilient, adaptable, and self-motivated learners. Schools continue to integrate SDL through blended learning approaches, combining traditional teaching with online tools to foster independent inquiry and critical thinking skills. At the time of writing, I am currently a Year 2 Poly student. The education landscape today looks very different from the one back then. It has evolved for the better. Schools focus on students learning to learn rather than simply spoon-feeding them textbook contents. My poly enforces SDL week every term. Furthermore, my alma mater has SDL embedded in their weekly schedule. Students have SDL on every Thursday of odd weeks. 

The last 10 years 

Let’s take a trip down memory lane… when generative AI such as ChatGPT, Gemini and other forms of AI were not yet so advanced and developed. Looking back, it’s astonishing to see just how much the education landscape has truly evolved. Back then, digital learning tools were relatively basic consisting of just online quizzes and static e-books. Today, we have entered an era where intelligent learning systems and AI are refining the way we learn. Generative AI, like ChatGPT and Gemini, has become a valuable ally for students in their SDL journey. These tools not only provide instant access to vast repositories of knowledge but also adapt to individual learning needs.

During my SDL journey in Secondary school and when I first started my tertiary education in poly, I chanced upon an opportunity to make use of AI Flashcards to enhance my learning. You may be wondering: what exactly are AI Flashcards and how can they help you excel in your studies? 

AI flashcards is a digital learning tool powered by artificial intelligence that combines the use of pomodoro which traditional flashcards enable with advanced technology to create a personalised and efficient learning experience. But unlike static paper flashcards, AI Flashcards are dynamic in adjusting the content and its frequency based on the learners’ progress and needs. 

To me, SDL is about learning to learn on your own. This means the ability to learn by finding methods that best suit your learning style. To be honest with you, it was only when I started my tertiary education that I truly began to take responsibility for my own learning and AI Flashcards was a stepping stone for me. 

Looking back, I just can’t help but think how different SDL would’ve been had AI Flashcards existed back then. But I guess the question for you is, why would students actually use them if so many other forms of advanced technology already exist now? Well, I recently came across a study on how and why students make use of Digital flashcards during self-regulated learning and if these uses are supported by research from the science of learning. It’s important to note that there is a distinct difference between AI Flashcards and digital flashcards. Digital flashcards are basically an online version of your traditional paper flashcards but with AI Flashcards, it unlocks a new spectrum of personalisation. 

A large survey of about 901 undergraduates at a major university in the U.S. was conducted and it revealed valuable insights into the popularity, acquisition and usage of digital flashcards. 

I highlighted a few questions from the survey which I found interesting:

1. If you use pre-made digital flashcard sets, where do they come from? (n = 701)m

Response: 

Friends studying for the same exam/class (47.2%)

Friends who have taken the class previously (31.2%)

Web search (86.2%)

Other 4.0%

I do not use pre-made digital flashcard sets (5.1%)

2. If you choose to use pre-made digital flashcard sets rather than make your own digital flashcard sets, why do you do so? (n = 701)m

Response:

I don’t have the time to make my own flashcard sets (70.2%)

I trust the information on pre-made flashcard sets (37.4%)

Pre-made flashcard sets are easily available (81.3%)

Pre-made flashcard sets are higher quality (9.4%)

Pre-made flashcard sets are more accurate (7.4%)

Pre-made flashcard sets contain practice questions (34.7%)

Other (2.3%)

I do not use pre-made digital flashcards (10.4%)

Well it’s interesting to note that most students prefer using pre-made digital flashcards because of the convenience it provides them. Unsurprisingly, a significant 81.3% of the respondents mentioned that they simply do not have the time to make their own flashcards. 

AI flashcards would be able to solve all these concerns with ease. With a matter of seconds, you could turn your digital notes into auto-generated flashcards. These flashcards would align with your curriculum and the best part is that you can customise them however you like afterwards, killing two birds with one stone. Imagine having access to AI flashcards back in the day where you could include statistical diagrams and visual charts into your digital notes and test yourself with ease. It would have been a game changer. 

Reflecting on my SDL days in secondary school, if I had access to AI Flashcards, so much more of my time could’ve been spent on meaningful active recall rather than making my notes. Don’t get me wrong, there are many benefits in dedicating lots of time and effort into the process of making your own notes but at the end of the day, previous revision time to revisit the notes you made is lost. In the ever-evolving education landscape, one thing remains constant: the need for self-directed learners who can adapt and grow. Think of AI flashcards being more of a catalyst to helping you unlock your potential and make the most of every learning opportunity rather than just a tool. 

How I would’ve used AI flashcards if they were available to me back then 

A typical SDL day in 2020 would’ve gone only 2 ways for most people. 

1. You woke up extremely early (earlier than you ever thought you could get yourself to get out of bed) 

2. You woke up closer to dinner time because of your extremely messed up sleep schedule 

Those who had the better sleep schedule (1) would complete their SDL work published on google classroom by 10am and spend the rest of the day chilling. The boys would all hop on discord to play Brawl Stars or Battle Royale in PUBG or CODM. 

P.S. I was the “early bird catches the worm” one. And you can imagine the countless hours I spent on CODM Battle Royale with my friends. Winner winner chicken dinner…?! 

Speaking of the SDL work. I’m sure you all can relate to how frustrating it is that all of the worksheets and topics are so messy and spread out. I guess that was because they needed to even out the workload for the entire week for us. With AI flashcards, I could simply have made a new “Island” for each day of work for the specific topic of that specific subject. In this way, I could easily locate the SDL resources and content when revising them. Furthermore because online learning tools were so undeveloped at the time, most available resources were multiple-choice-question-based. This would’ve been perfect for AI flashcards as you could make use of them for active recall later on. 

Besides this, why bother spending so much time rearranging your notes and reconsolidating the learning materials again when you can just chuck your entire pdf of notes into AI Flashcards and let them do the work for you, churning out your hours of blood, sweat and tears while creating your own notes. Of course I'm not asking you to be completely reliant on AI Flashcards but you can let them do the hard job of creating the bulk of the notes and thereafter make minor adjustments to suit your own liking. With this, you can study harder while doing it smartly. 

Now here’s how I envision SDL would’ve been if AI Flashcards had existed back then during covid…

A typical day starts off with you getting up at 6am. You wash up and finish breakfast by 7am. 

Thereafter you hop on your personal learning device, boot up Coastflow and google classroom. You create separate ‘islands’ for every chapter/subject of the learning materials you are given for the day and upload them to make them into AI flashcards. Afterwards, you select the flashcards you need to complete the specific worksheet given to you. While referring to them, you are able to understand any misconceptions because of the ‘explain’ feature while making use of generative AI to explain the concept. To put it simply, it is an idiots’ guide to understanding whichever concept you’re struggling to grasp. 

By 9am you complete all your work and now you’re ready to take a chill pill and start hopping onto discord to play battle royale with your friends

It’s now 2pm and you’ve just finished your lunch. But wait… this time you’re not gonna continue gaming or chilling because you’re feeling extremely productive. With the availability of the AI flashcards you made and the growing pressure of your mid-year exams potentially still looming round the corner, you’re motivated to start your revision early. So you go island by island through the various chapters of the subjects you’ve learned for the day and revise them using Active Recall. After you’re done, it’s time to move on to the other topics in the list tested for the exams. Simply search for the chapter and the island pops up instantly urging you to do your revision.

It’s now 7.30pm and you’ve just finished dinner. It’s time to Netflix and chill or continue playing battle royale! (maybe Brawl Stars to continue that trophy grind). 

But waaaait… don’t forget to stop at 9pm and start winding down. You gotta start the other grind early at 6am the following day! Maybe you can wind down by reading some of my other blogs on coastflow.org. Haha. 

Annnnnddd that’s how I envision SDL to be with AI flashcards. I hope you find them as useful as I have described.