Group Learning Through the Lens of Learner Autonomy

Abstract

Learner autonomy describes the individual who exercises personal agency in his or her learning. Similar to an individual, groups—that is, collections of people with a defined purpose often represented by organizational subunits—also engage in intentional learning to support and improve existing processes or identify and pursue new opportunities. The purpose of this theoretical discussion is to characterize aspects of intentional group learning using the theoretical framework associated with learner autonomy. Applied to the group level, notions of agentic learning, modes through which agentic learning is exercised, and regulation will be discussed through this lens of autonomy. This discussion may prove useful in describing how organizational groups learn intentionally and in developing processes that improve such learning.