A1 Journal article (refereed)
Self-Directed Learning as a Practice of Workplace Learning : Interpretative Repertoires of Self-Directed Learning in ICT Work (2020)

Lemmetty, S., & Collin, K. (2020). Self-Directed Learning as a Practice of Workplace Learning : Interpretative Repertoires of Self-Directed Learning in ICT Work. Vocations and Learning, 13(1), 47-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12186-019-09228-x

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lemmetty, Soila; Collin, Kaija

Journal or series: Vocations and Learning

ISSN: 1874-785X

eISSN: 1874-7868

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 13

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 47-70

Publisher: Springer Netherlands

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12186-019-09228-x

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67396

Abstract

Changing technologies and competition in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) are challenging the learning of individual workers and teams alongside and through work. Organisations call for employees’ autonomy and self-directedness executed by agile operations and low hierarchies, where learning is also increasingly the responsibility of the individuals and teams themselves and occurs in practice without strong control of the organisation. Therefore, the multidimensional concept of self-directed learning becomes essential in the context of learning at work. In this study, we examine how employees in the ICT sector describe self-directed learning practices in the context of workplace learning. Our data consist of interviews with ICT employees in two organisations, which undergo an applied discourse analysis. The workers talked about self-directed learning as an obliged, creativity-enhanced as well as flexible and fast-paced practice. Self-directed learning was also described as a practice tied to work itself. The paper concludes with a discussion on how these partly conflicting discourses about self-directed learning practice in work could be considered in practices related to enhancing such learning in the ICT field. Suggestions for future investigations are also presented.

Keywords: on-the-job learning; self-direction; learning; information and communications technology; organisations (systems); discourse analysis

Free keywords: workplace learning; self-directed learning; discourse analysis; interpretative repertoires; ICT organisation

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 2