Empowering Learners to Self-Regulate and Act Responsibly in the Digital Age
The speed of technological progress and the deep integration of digital systems across society underline the urgent need for continuous upskilling to maintain digital responsibility. Online learning environments provide powerful opportunities to develop digital responsibility competencies through authentic and experiential learning. Learners can engage directly with digital tools, simulations, and real-world scenarios that mirror the ethical, social, and legal challenges they may face in practice. Such interactive experiences enhance critical thinking and ethical decision-making, skills that lie at the center of responsible digital behavior.
At the same time, the flexibility and autonomy of online environments require learners to effectively self-regulate their learning, i.e., to plan, monitor, and evaluate their own progress toward learning goals. Learners must strategically manage their time, set objectives, and reflect on their performance. Through case studies, ethical dilemmas, and interactive activities, they are encouraged to examine their digital habits, biases, and decisions. This reflective process fosters metacognitive skills and helps internalize digital responsibility. However, evidence shows that many learners still struggle to self-regulate effectively in online contexts.
The DIRECT project addresses this challenge by designing and developing innovative learning pathways that integrate adaptive feedback and personalized self-assessment tools. These features aim to support learners in managing their own progress while deepening their understanding of what it means to act responsibly in the digital world.
