Lincoln as Learner: Three Scenarios of Successful Self-Directed Learning

Biography can be a valuable tool in understanding historical perspectives on adult learning. The purpose of this study was to look at three examples of times throughout Abraham Lincoln's life when he demonstrated a high level of self-directedness in learning in order to solve problems that he f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of self-directed learning Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 1 - 9
Main Authors Brockett, Mary R, Brockett, Ralph G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published International Society for Self-Directed Learning 2020
Subjects
Adult Education
Biographies
Independent Study
Individual Characteristics
Individual Development
Presidents
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Summary:Biography can be a valuable tool in understanding historical perspectives on adult learning. The purpose of this study was to look at three examples of times throughout Abraham Lincoln's life when he demonstrated a high level of self-directedness in learning in order to solve problems that he faced. Specifically, we examined (a) Lincoln's youth, when he first acquired the skills and attitude that would serve him as a self-directed learner in adulthood; (b) the example of Lincoln's years practicing law; and (c) his time as President of the United States when he had to learn how to lead the country through probably its greatest crisis. These three scenarios were then examined in relation to a current model of self-directed learning in order to put the discussion into a contemporary context.
ISSN:1934-3701
1934-3701