stage one of the present study was a qualitative approach using semi-structured interview to explore students' experiences with learning activities which they perceived to be self-directed in their undergraduate programs. eight students were interviewed. Findings from this stage reveal that participants perceived a shift in teaching and learning styles between their previous nursing programs and the university. The more frequent use of student-directed learning activities, in which students were encouraged to be active and to take responsibility for their learning tasks, was one of the changes in the learning approaches perceived by participants. participants further suggested a number of factors that influenced the outcome of these learning activities, including teacher-student interaction, facilitation process and learning resources.