Independent Learning
Difficult teaching method to use, but…
Help with Independent Learning
Peer-to-peer helping: ‘study buddy’
• You pair up ‘one who can’ with ‘one who
can’t’
• You stress the difference between
copying and teaching/learning
• You make the short term learning
objective clear
• The helper reports progress to you
Learning Teams
• Group of 5-7 students (mixed)
• Responsible for each other’s performance
(group gets average mark of its members?)
• Ensure one student in each group is good at vital
skills
• Not friends
• Meet outside class time
• Chair and secretary rotates: agenda and minutes
• You decide first agenda, and see all minutes
Academic controversy (4 in two pairs)
Pair A prepares:
Why do these methods work?
Pair B prepares:
Why these methods don’t work & difficulties
1. State your cases without interruption
2. Argue!
Together:
How the difficulties could be overcome
Independent Learning
Course Content
Independent Learning
Course Content
Easy bits..
Independent Learning
Course Content
Easy bits..
are not taught,
instead ….
an Independent Learning assignment
is set
Independent learning
Assignment
Task 1.
Task 2.
Task 3.
Task 4.
References:
Thought provoking
easy
clearly defined
resource rich
internet
video
topic box
NOT exclusively
solitary, or
book and biro
social
learning teams
study buddies
not marking
intensive
What
tasks?
own words!
no ILT printouts!
resource rather
than syllabus
centred at first
Geoff’s Patent Independent Learning Tuner
Independent learning
Assignment
Task 1.
Task 2.
Task 3.
Task 4.
References:
Geoff’s Patent Independent Learning Tuner
Geoff’s Patent Independent Learning Tuner
What’s the problem?
What’s the problem?
Students may not have the skills to
learn independently
Competency approach
Study
Ask others
for help
Underline
key points
….
skills
never
p30-31
sometimes
usually
Competency approach
Study
Ask others
for help
Underline
key points
….
skills
never
sometimes
1
1
usually
Competency approach
Study
Ask others
for help
Underline
key points
….
skills
never
1
sometimes
2
12
usually
Kolb’s Learning Cycle
Do
Review
Apply
Learn
Learning to learn
Independent
Learning
Assignment
Test
Do
Review
Apply
Learn
Learning to learn
Independent
Learning
Assignment
Do
Apply
Learn
Test
What happened?
(competency
Review questionnaire)
Learning to learn
Independent
Learning
Assignment
Do
Apply
Test
What happened?
(competency
Review questionnaire)
Learn
Why did this happen?
what did you find difficult?
what could you do about that?
Learning to learn
Independent
Learning
Assignment
Do
How do I
do better
next time?
= target
Apply
Test
What happened?
(competency
Review questionnaire)
Learn
Why did this happen?
what did you find difficult?
what could you do about that?
Independent learning Assignment 2
Target
Task 1.
Task 2.
Task 3.
Task 4.
References:
New Target
Occasional use of Independent Learning
Course Content
Easy bits..
Continuous use of Independent Learning
Course Content
Easy bits..
A solution
to the ‘no
time to
teach’
problem?
Principles
topic
Key points
Get the structure first …
Principles
topic
Key points
Get the structure first …
….then add the detail
Principles
topic
Key points
Get the structure first …
….then add the detail
Principles
topic
Key points
Get the structure first …
….then add the detail
Principles
Get structure with:
Advance organisers
Graphic organisers
Reasoning tasks in class
Class discussion
Peer explaining
Note making
etc
topic
Key points
Principles
topic
Key points
Add the detail with:
Homeworks
Assignment tasks
Independent learning
tasks
Reading tasks
Highlighting tasks
ILT/ICT
Teaching Without
Talking
What are the pros and cons of
Independent Learning?
(Consider both the teacher’s and the students’
points of view.)
‘Pair and share’:
Work I pairs first
Share you ideas with another pair
Develops IL skills
for:
differentiates
progression
work
life
saves teaching
time
Why
use IL?
Autonomy
active learners
creativity & effectiveness
identity and esteem,
even mental health!
students learn
to take
responsibility
for learning
it’s a change!
it’s fun!