Social networks use as an element of self-direction in learning: the learning strategies and behaviours of sports sciences university students

In recent years, self-direction in learning has gained attention as one of the most relevant learning attitudes and behaviours. Nowadays, the massive increase of Web 2.0 Communication and Learning tools has given people new opportunities to learn. Actually, learners can select a number of these and use them as learning tools according to their individual needs and interests. The use of social networks as learning environments and their impact on Self-Direction attitude and tendency of University students has been scarcely explored. By drawing on main scholarly literature on self-direction in learning, this article aims to identify the key features and functions of this learning within the context of sports sciences students’ continuous education by examining a case study from an Italian University. To understand the impact of social networks on the learning attitude of these students, a survey was carried out and used to investigate the relationship between self-direction in learning and the use of social media as online learning environments. The results of the study have shown that the topics and issues researched represent a new field which deserves to be better explored in further research.