Testimonials

One of the best symposia I have attended. - Paul J. Guglielmino
It was great! - Allen Tough

This is a "boutique" conference. The 20th celebrated the history of self-directed learning. It is a place to meet and hear the giants of the field. - Terry Liddell

An extraordinary opportunity to meet and share with others who are passionate about SDL. - Dr. Michael Beitler

The intimate size of the symposium allowed attendees the amazing opportunity to talk to the major contributors of self-directed learning. Some of the "greats" in SDL were eager to share their research. - Janet Cornella

For International Participants: The Symposium has done wonders for both my colleague, Dr Lung Ching Leung, and me. In Hong Kong, there were not many people researching self-directed learning and we relied on books, journals and occasional reports to get a feel for the area. At the Symposium, however, the feedback is immediate. What was more, everyone was so professional and scholarly. The interaction gave me new insights and understanding. So a big thank you to you for organising such a great conference.

I have told my friends in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Australia about
your good work and hope that I can persuade them to come along next
year. - Magdalena Mok, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong

For HRD Professionals: I think that in this world of e-learning in business the importance of having self-directed employees cannot be over-emphasized. The Self-directed Learning Symposium is the place where you can learn about the latest research and talk to the experts in SDL. There is no other
conference that comes even close for this purpose. - George Piskurich
HRD Consultant and editor of the ASTD Handbook on the Design and Delivery of Training, the American Management Association Handbook on E-Learning, and two recent Jossey-Bass books on E-learning in business and industry

The Self-directed Learning Symposium has been an extremely valuable place to share ideas with other researchers and HRD practitioners. When SDL opportunities are implemented, employees became more satisfied with their learning, and their quality and value to the company are enhanced. - Richard Durr (retired), formerly with Motorola University

For Students: The Symposium was a wonderful opportunity to meet some of the major researchers in self-directed learning. Our SDL Research Group (at The University of Tennessee) made its first presentation there, and we have continued to be active at this annual event over the past few years. I feel welcomed there and have enjoyed the environment that the organizers have created. This conference has played a key role in the historical evolution of SDL over the past two decades, and I think it should be on a “must attend list” for any student, practitioner, or faculty member interested in this line of research and literature. The professors attending this symposium are highly supportive of students’ needs during the completion of their research. Those attending this symposium have been instrumental in helping me and several others at my university complete the data collection phase of our dissertations. - Robert Donaghy, Member of the SDL Research Group at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Ed.D., University of Tennessee, 2004

For Professors: I have attended the SDL Symposium for the past ten and always find something that I can take back that is beneficial. The concept of self-directed learning crosses K-12, undergraduate, graduate and professional education, and business/industry training. The value of the SDL Symposium for me is that we talk across boundaries and form a true learning community. - Bob Bulik, Ph.D.,Associate Professor,University of Texas Medical Branch

I really enjoyed the Symposium. It meant a lot to be with others who also highly regard the value of self-directed learning. It was really interesting to see how other people have utilized the principles of self-directed learning in various classes as well as in business. - Donald N. Roberson, Jr., PhD., University of Georgia, 2004

One of the most worthwhile conferences I have ever attended. Great opportunities to network with others involved in SDL. I appreciate the supportive atmosphere, and the emphasis on encouraging graduate student participation. - Ralph G. Brockett

	Testimonials One of the best symposia I have attended. - Paul J. Guglielmino It was great! - Allen Tough This is a "boutique" conference. The 20th celebrated the history of self-directed learning. It is a place to meet and hear the giants of the field. - Terry Liddell An extraordinary opportunity to meet and share with others who are passionate about SDL. - Dr. Michael Beitler The intimate size of the symposium allowed attendees the amazing opportunity to talk to the major contributors of self-directed learning. Some of the "greats" in SDL were eager to share their research. - Janet Cornella For International Participants: The Symposium has done wonders for both my colleague, Dr Lung Ching Leung, and me. In Hong Kong, there were not many people researching self-directed learning and we relied on books, journals and occasional reports to get a feel for the area. At the Symposium, however, the feedback is immediate. What was more, everyone was so professional and scholarly. The interaction gave me new insights and understanding. So a big thank you to you for organising such a great conference. I have told my friends in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Australia about your good work and hope that I can persuade them to come along next year. - *Magdalena Mok,* The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong For HRD Professionals: I think that in this world of e-learning in business the importance of having self-directed employees cannot be over-emphasized. The Self-directed Learning Symposium is the place where you can learn about the latest research and talk to the experts in SDL. There is no other conference that comes even close for this purpose. - George Piskurich HRD Consultant and editor of the ASTD Handbook on the Design and Delivery of Training, the American Management Association Handbook on E-Learning, and two recent Jossey-Bass books on E-learning in business and industry The Self-directed Learning Symposium has been an extremely valuable place to share ideas with other researchers and HRD practitioners. When SDL opportunities are implemented, employees became more satisfied with their learning, and their quality and value to the company are enhanced. - Richard Durr (retired), formerly with Motorola University For Students: The Symposium was a wonderful opportunity to meet some of the major researchers in self-directed learning. Our SDL Research Group (at The University of Tennessee) made its first presentation there, and we have continued to be active at this annual event over the past few years. I feel welcomed there and have enjoyed the environment that the organizers have created. This conference has played a key role in the historical evolution of SDL over the past two decades, and I think it should be on a “must attend list” for any student, practitioner, or faculty member interested in this line of research and literature. The professors attending this symposium are highly supportive of students’ needs during the completion of their research. Those attending this symposium have been instrumental in helping me and several others at my university complete the data collection phase of our dissertations. - Robert Donaghy, Member of the SDL Research Group at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Ed.D., University of Tennessee, 2004 For Professors: I have attended the SDL Symposium for the past ten and always find something that I can take back that is beneficial. The concept of self-directed learning crosses K-12, undergraduate, graduate and professional education, and business/industry training. The value of the SDL Symposium for me is that we talk across boundaries and form a true learning community. - Bob Bulik, Ph.D.,Associate Professor,University of Texas Medical Branch I really enjoyed the Symposium. It meant a lot to be with others who also highly regard the value of self-directed learning. It was really interesting to see how other people have utilized the principles of self-directed learning in various classes as well as in business. - Donald N. Roberson, Jr., PhD., University of Georgia, 2004 One of the most worthwhile conferences I have ever attended. Great opportunities to network with others involved in SDL. I appreciate the supportive atmosphere, and the emphasis on encouraging graduate student participation. - Ralph G. Brockett An extraordinary opportunity to meet and share with others who are passionate about SDL. - Dr. Michael Beitler Being able to share and discuss ideas at the Symposium with researchers whose special interest is self-directed learning draws researchers from a number of countries every year. The research on SDL has been encouraged and enriched through the yearly exchange. Professors, students, and HRD professionals from a wide variety of areas contribute to a rich intellectual environment with vital implications for practice. - Lucy M. Guglielmino, Professor of Adult and Community Education, Florida Atlantic University and co-editor of the International Journal of Self-Directed Learning My experience was very positive, primarily due to Dr. Lucy Guglielmino's help in the scheduling and participating in the presentation. The refreshments were great, and the venue was well-situated. I am looking forward to attending next year's symposium! - Lurana C. Hillard This conference continues to offer an academically enriched experience while maintaining a comfortable environment in which to dialogue. It is typically attended by a wonderfully diverse group of professionals, from grad students to long-time, well-published members of the field, all interacting as colleagues. - Pat Maher Oh, what a great opportunity. I can not say enough about the 20th International Self-directed Learning Symposium. There is no way to duplicate the experience of sitting at a table with an author and researcher you have read and admired at a distance. This experience alone is worth the time and expense of attending the symposium. Learning from and with other scholars in the field of SDL validates my own interest and research in SDL. The beautiful location and climate are a bonus that creates an atmosphere of relaxed dialogue among presenters and attendees. Thank you to everyone who made this such an unforgettable experience. - *Dessa Beswick* The intimate size of the symposium allowed attendees the amazing opportunity to talk to the major contributors of self-directed learning. Some of the "greats" in SDL were eager to share their research. - Janet Cornella As a doctoral student, reading texts can be quite tedious at times, therefore, the SDL Symposia are an excellent opportunity to actually have the authors rise out of the books and off the web pages into reality. While listening to Tough, Brockett, Hiemstra, Long, and Guglielmino I've gotten a sense of the past, present, and future and my own understanding of self and my learning. Thank you! - Jo Ann Bamdas One of the best symposia I have attended. - Paul J. Guglielmino It was great! - Allen Tough This is a "boutique" conference. The 20th celebrated the history of self-directed learning. It is a place to meet and hear the giants of the field. - Terry Liddell