Self-Organized Learning in Informal Settings of Higher Education: How it Works?

Abstract

PCF10 Sub-theme: Inspiring Innovations // The learning crisis in higher education is an emerging concern attracting the attention of researchers globally. The paper explores effective pedagogy known as self-organized learning in informal settings among engineering undergraduates of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. // The exploratory research design has been used to understand students' meaning of learning, examining the influence of peer interaction and studying the process of self-organized learning in informal settings among peers. Observation, Likert scale, and Semi-structured interviews have been used to collect the data from undergraduates. Interviews have been analyzed using qualitative conventional content analysis technique on the software Atlas. ti. // The finding shows students' meaning of learning does not confine to academic and professional learning but also includes skillsets for psychological well-being and social support. Additionally, the influence of peer interaction can be negative, which discourages students from being open and comfortable, and on other positive, which encourages students to learn. Self-organized peer learning shows that students' learning is not only highly engaged but surprisingly also matches with the experience of being in a state of mind known as flow. Findings may be used to invent pedagogies that are effective as well as joyful for higher education students to learn. // Paper ID 4609