Comparison of Self-Directed Learning Readiness of Fire Executives to the Norm and Public Managers.

Abstract

The problem was that the self-directed learning readiness of National Fire Academy (NFA) fire executive development students was not known. The purpose of this prac-.icum was to compare the self-directed learning readiness of fire executives to the theoretical norm and other pubiic managers. Procedures included testing 30 NFA Fire Executive Development students with the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) instrument. The distribution of fire executive SDLRS scores were compared to the theoretical norm and other public managers. This comparison was made statistically with the chi-square goodness of fit calculation. The findings indicated that the fire executive's distribution of SDLRS scores was statistically higher than the theoretical norm and public managers. The level of significance for both comparisons was P5..001. Despite the fact that the fire executives scored higher then the public managers, 30% of the fire executives only scored average on the SDLRS; which was judged to be unacceptable. This judgment was made because the literature indicated that professionals need a high degree of self-directed learning to be successful. Recommendations included the identification, implementation, and evaluation of a learning contract instructional methodology into the existing Fire Executive Development course.

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