Independent Learning of Digital Animation

Digital animation (DA) is a field of art and design which requires certain level of design and computer skills with creativity and storytelling. Learners are required to spend a considerable amount of time on their own for practicing the skills after their formal classes. Guided by connectivism and Meyer's factors of independent learning, this article aims at defining independent learning from digital learners' perspective and, identifying factors influencing their moves of independent learning. Twenty digital animation students enrolled at three higher education institutions in Malaysia participated in focus group discussions (FGD). Overall thematic analysis revealed that the students' perspective of independent learning corroborated with most student-centred learning concepts. The digital learners were highly dependent on the Internet for their learning; the students however struggled in their pursuit of becoming an independent learner due to fear of failure (or kiasuism), and self-criticism.

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