This study aimed to investigate the changes in self-directed learning among elementary school students through English freewriting activities supported by the generative AI platform “Wrtn.” Traditional English writing instruction in elementary sch...
This study aimed to investigate the changes in self-directed learning among elementary school students through English freewriting activities supported by the generative AI platform “Wrtn.” Traditional English writing instruction in elementary schools has often focused on fixed sentence patterns and answer-based tasks, providing limited opportunities for students to express themselves autonomously. To address this limitation, the present study explored how students engaged in generating, revising, and expanding their writing with AI assistance in a freewriting context.
The participants were eleven fourth-grade students from an elementary school in Gunsan, Korea. The freewriting lessons were implemented over eight sessions. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests on self-directed learning, student writing samples, in-depth interviews, Wrtn usage logs, and teacher observations. The analysis framework was based on Garrison’s (1997) three components of self-directed learning: motivation, self-control, and self-management.
The findings revealed that, first, in the domain of learning motivation, students showed reduced anxiety toward writing and increased willingness to express their own ideas in English. The AI’s suggested sentences, vocabulary support, and prompts facilitated idea generation and sustained interest in writing. Second, in the domain of self-control, students demonstrated metacognitive engagement by comparing and revising AI-generated sentences, instead of passively accepting them. Third, in the domain of self-management, some students established learning routines outside class, such as using Wrtn’s speaking function three times a week.
Differences by achievement level were also evident. High-achieving students actively expanded their writing, structured their ideas, and selected expressions for intended meaning. Middle-level students showed the most significant growth in self-management by forming autonomous learning habits. Low-achieving students struggled due to limited language proficiency and difficulty understanding the task context, resulting in minimal change in self-directed learning. These findings suggest that self-directed learning is influenced not only by language proficiency but also by learners’ interest, engagement, and familiarity with AI tools.
In conclusion, Wrtn-supported freewriting contributed to lowering the psychological burden of writing and encouraged students to participate actively in the processes of generating and revising text. The study demonstrates that generative AI can function as an effective learning partner in elementary English writing and discusses educational implications for AI-based instructional design.