And, depending upon your industry, continuous learning could be vital to your employability. The Importance Of Independent Learning. Continuous learning helps you avoid stagnation in any profession and ensures that you keep moving forward toward reaching your full potential. Failure is not an option for many of the students who are terrified of a less than perfect report card. During the pandemic, it has become essential for students to be self-directed learners. As pointed out in this article, in the United States education budgets have grown 350% after inflation since 1970, but education outcomes have not improved. She spent several years working for a local Connecticut school at the district level, implementing new technologies to help students and teachers in the classroom. 10 Reasons Why Educators Should Step Out of the Way and Encourage Independ…. The learning is defined, organised and completed by the learner. When things get tough, those who don’t quit are the ones who are determined to rely on their own sense of satisfaction and not someone patting them on the back. The students enjoyed setting their own pace and holding themselves accountable. In a classroom with a traditional teacher, the students are relying on the educator to feed them the proper instruction, principles, and training. Five different and random emoji are used to inspire students to create five different sentences. 4. teachers creating cellphone “how-to-teach” lessons for parents at home! A facilitator in the classroom can oversee the environment so that each student can work at their own pace and timing. Independent Learning is important because it develops creativity and intellectual curiosity. The question is, how do we make our teachers excellent facilitators that promote independent learning? Students who aren’t given the opportunity for independent learning don’t acquire the skill of HOW to learn and how to examine a principle from multiple angles. It was a passion we both shared, e.g. Independent learners are ready and capable of navigating the process whereas pupils that are fed information from the teacher will get discouraged when they venture out on their own. We want our students to be active rather than passive learners. Instead of waiting to be told what to do, students can take ownership of their own learning. Independence is a valuable end goal of education – whereas ‘independent learning’ is something that is developed through the expert guidance of a teacher. Independent learners are more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. The feedback from parents was positive due to the fact that the students were challenged but able to complete the work on their own. Would they even open the boxes? They’ve never seen a written word anywhere- no street signs, printed books, or even cardboard packaging. Motivation to climb over obstacles is far easier to muster when the student is allowed to choose what educational mountain to tackle first. Cultivating Independent Learners Inspire student motivation for learning: Motivation to learn is key to success in school, after graduation in the global job market, and for life in a world of constant changes in technology. You Can Facilitate Virtual Coaching and Provide Targeted Feedback, Tactical Ideas for Virtually Coaching Your Newly Virtual Teachers, Confronting Hesitations About Video Coaching in a School District, Have you seen “What Works” for your schools? Unfortunately, money often drives many of the current educational trends. Some students naturally become independent learners based on life circumstances and learning style. 3. https://t.co/HKAKLdIfHz https://t.co/mu3D57f1qg, Women In Leadership: What's the Status? In the absence of technology for every student, districts are leaning on the two P’s of teaching: packets…, © 2011-20 R3 Collaboratives Privacy Independent learning skills help a child to experience a situation or challenge they have never experienced before and enable them to utilise their independent skills to confidently solve the problem. When the process is part of the goal, failure isn’t quite so scary. Overall, independent learning is a critical skill for students to develop because it promotes creativity and intellectual curiously. Now what is the first thing that comes to mind when someone uses the word, “teacher”? However, it's a fact that not all students (or people for that matter) are independent learners. To walk-through the mechanics of the activity, an emoji is shown. […], […] what Julie DeNeen does in this compelling piece arguing the merits of independent learning for every child, very little of which is currently […], […] This is a cross post with OpenColleges.edu.au. This is why Kim’s process of allowing her students to become educators is so beneficial. The process of learning is an exciting adventure that can be interrupted when the primary focus of the classroom is on the goal. The world isn’t going to cheer us all on always. Then she let each student choose one of their peer’s paragraphs to revise. Advertising You have a infinite number of resources and information on the Internet that … Today's world is dynamic and ever-changing. This process continues four more times until the students have written a five-sentence paragraph. Governments are spending larger and larger portions of their budgets on education. What good is genius locked up inside of someone who has no idea how to communicate to others? The workflow or learning routine within EduProtocol stays the same, so students can focus on the content. Creating routines helps students to work and learn independently. When students know their teacher and peers are counting on them, they won’t want to let them down. Perhaps you think of words like planner, coordinator, promoter, developer, or designer. Instead of waiting to be told what to do, students can take ownership of their own learning. From there, the students create their own follow up project or task based on the research they have done. Why is independent learning important? Why is independent learning so important? Below, here are the five strategies that Kim shared with her students. What High Achieving Students Have In Common : InformED, New Study Demonstrates How iPads Improve Learning - InformED. The review found some evidence of the benefits of independent learning, including: improved academic performance; This also means that you will have … Two weeks later they were able to sing the ABC song. With no prior experience using technology, the English language, or any printed materials, within days these children were actively playing on average 47 apps a day. For example, try: Kim also creates distance learning assignments that ask students to choose their own topic to research at home. They just take the bull by the horns. They learn to problem solve. Kim reports that quite a few of her students enjoyed the independent nature of distance learning. Talk about this with your students, and practice how they might answer if an adult asks about an […], […] not all about vocabulary-building. Studying for a qualification such as the Cambridge B2 First or C1 Advanced requires a lot of work and motivation, and the more autonomous our students become the better. The skills you gain are transferrable to most jobs. Grasping the structure of language itself can also help students learn across various […], […] researchers found that students displayed learning gains after as little as 20 minutes of independent study on the […], […] findings indicated that the practice of increasing student ownership and responsibility for their academic success was a distinguishing feature of schools with higher-student […], […] explains that developing this type of student-driven learning experience is something she and others at her school are working […], […] our final aim should be for pupils to work independently; this does not mean that constant independent learning will achieve this aim. Depth … Julie DeNeen has her bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of New Haven. We help educators stay up to date with the latest in EdTech and beyond with thought leadership in online vocational education. Studies show that teaching is the highest form of learning. Bosses on the job don’t act like teachers. All teachers want to develop their students into independent learners. Learning is not always a straight path. 14th July 2012. When they know that you are there for them and they are there for each other, there is a magical interdependence that happens because of that.”. Now there are boxes with something completely foreign inside. It is about them working out the answers rather than being told them. Lifelong learning is an indispensable tool for every career and … Independence is important for organisms to function effectively in the world. We want our students to be active rather than passive learners. First let’s look at why independent learning is so important. The students chose any topic that was school-appropriate and created activities for their peers to complete. This writing exercise generally happens once per week. Professionally, continuous learning is about expanding your skills to keep up with quickly emerging developments. Here’s the new emoji generator.). Independent Learning in the Classroom . All of these associations make the word “teacher” feel like a central part of the environment and the goal. Tim Barber 16th June 2016 at 4:02pm. Independent learning is also important in developing as well as improving organizational skills. Independent learning is rooted in effective questioning and dialogue. In a classroom with a facilitator, he or she sets up a learning environment and largely gives the students the ability to learn on their own. In memory of my friend, mentor, and colleague, Jay Cross, and his most recent campaign for Real Learning, I thought it appropriate to talk about learning to learn, or meta-learning. Let’s bring this around to the classroom and look more closely at the role of a teacher or facilitator in education. Many people are sceptical of the benefits of play, but one teacher argues that it is the best way to ensure that children are learners for life . Independent reading time, then, is not simply students reading books randomly. But this can be hard when students aren’t in the classroom. Kim said, “That trust factor is huge. Words like coach, disciplinarian, faculty, instructor, lecturer, and trainer come to mind. This process created an opportunity for students to learn from each other. (Editor’s note: The EduProtocol article links to an emoji generator that no longer works. Share this. You need to be independent in order to survive in the world. It represents a shift … Students who have a facilitator rather than a teacher will come to depend on themselves for a job well done. Not only as a Educational worker and student but as a person. What were the benefits of independent learning for students? During a traditional school day, Kim would choose a paragraph for students to revise. Just look at all the advantages an independent learner takes away from their own education. Kim focuses on the EduProtocols model developed by Corippo and Marlena Hebern. Teacher or Facilitator: Is it just semantics? Why it’s important According to Kalisa, when teachers help students to become independent, it help them to develop their own ideas, rather than always looking to teachers on everything; which at the end will see such learners as problems solvers even in future. Personalized Learning in Classroom Activities. It’s a virtuous circle, helping students become top students and then because they are top students they continue to learn independently as that is now their new ‘normal’ expectation. Share this: Share this Story gapi.plusone.go(); Tweet […], […] and let students create projects or presentations on the topic, forcing them to learn on their own. Traditional classroom environments can hamper a child’s ability to function in the real world where deadlines, distractions, and other obstacles are in the way. After the writing is complete, students will read everyone’s work and vote for a favorite. Also, it encourages … There is a difference between regurgitating materials on an exam vs. understanding the process of learning. Traditional educators can learn from this- we must move out of the way and give students the opportunity to learn on their own. Being independent therefore means that you will be more likely to try out new things that you want, rather than what or how you are expected to. Check out a recent article in this series about teachers creating cellphone “how-to-teach” lessons for parents at home! Like what you’re reading? Just like food nourishes our bodies, information and continued learning nourishes our minds. Independent learning is especially relevant when preparing students for exams. You can find out more about her @jdeneen4 and Google+. An independent life has always been essential in our society, but the more technology runs our world, being independent becomes both easier and more difficult. Created using mysimpleshow - Sign up at http://www.mysimpleshow.com and create your own simpleshow video for free We can learn from famous inventors whose failure in the process became the seed for amazing success down the road. Vocational Education vs Short Courses: Which Path Should You Take? Can I Use Covid-19 Teaching Videos for Meaningful Teacher Observations? Here is what I came up with… Independent Learning is learning that is self-directed. (Coaching is a core driver here) The ability to make informed choices and to take responsibility for your own learning activities with planning, support and guidance from teachers. Self-directed learning has inspired students to be more creative and to take risks. Then students write a sentence with a main idea that is based on the emoji—Kim uses Socrative as a way to capture this student feedback. If you give them deadline with which to work, they will learn how to manage their time, how to overcome distractions, and things like planning and prioritizing. In so doing, they hope that the pupils in their charge can take control of their own learning – both inside the classroom and beyond. Independent learning forces students to grapple with both their strengths and weaknesses through the educational process. Overall, independent learning is a critical skill for students to develop because it promotes creativity and intellectual curiously. And five months later? Patents 8,984,405 and and 10,001,904, The edTPA trademarks are owned by The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. They must also learn how to deal with distraction effectively. However, there can often be something of a gap between our stated intentions and what we do on a day-to-day basis. In becoming independent, the child also gains a sense of importance and belonging. Benefits of Independent Learning for Students. Independent learning is not just important to become a good student. and […], […] Many parents are baffled about how to get clear or detailed answers about what and how theyre learning in school. Then she has them explain why they choose this topic and what they learned from their research. This naturally creates flexibility for students with different learning styles and cognitive level. They feel they are able to contribute to the world and social life surrounding them whether in reception or school. © Open Colleges 2020-2026. Online Learning Without Laptops: Record Short, How-to Videos for Mobile Phones, A Note to Our Community of Educators and Partners, Feeding Forward with Video for Teacher Professional Learning. The importance of children’s independent exploration and creation of texts is supported by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF, 2016): They become aware of the relationships between oral and visual representations, and recognise patterns and relationships. The role of the teacher is to facilitate learning. Questioning and independent learning. For example, Kim’s students already knew how to work in Google Classroom and create slide decks in a collaborative manner. Independent learning includes time management and other life skills. They must also learn how to deal with distraction effectively. The teacher stands in the way of the student’s natural curiosity. Oftentimes it is a messy walk in the woods with a lot of detours. Traditional teachers and classrooms make little room for failure as everything is based on grades and exams. Top students often go beyond what they’ve been asked to do when it comes to producing extended pieces of work, especially if given the chance to conduct research. 10 Reasons Why Educators Should Step Out of the Way and Encourage Independent Learning | ArcheMedX, 10 reasons why educators should encourage independent learning - EdTech Times, Customized Instruction: Four Characteristics of Effective Instructional Explanations, Young Entrepreneurs need to have the traits of independent-learners | Entrepreneur Boot Camp for Teenagers, 4 Teaching Tips For More Effective Direct Instruction, Four characteristics of effective instructional explanations - EdTech Times, 50 Tips To Work Harmoniously With Parents : InformED, Writing To Think: When a Student Can't Write It, Can She Think It? Open Colleges Pty Ltd ABN 61 000 011 692 Provider Number 90796 | Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd ABN 82 003 899 527 Provider Number 90197 | YourLife Health & Learning Inc t/a Open Colleges School of Health ABN 39 742 730 429 RTO 40049 CRICOS Provider 03733E. Internal factors are the skills that individual students have to … Why is experiential learning important? Independent learning allows students to apply their own unique learning style (visual, verbal, auditory, etc.) In Kim’s experience, when students are writing for their peers, they are more motivated to produce their best work than if they are writing an assignment only for their teacher. Flexibility for different levels of intelligence. Being independent implies having the ability to make decisions. Facilitators are often used more in adult settings where it’s thought that adults can handle independent learning more readily. As students are able to self-direct themselves while learning, they should also be able to plot their own path and value their own work in order to compare themselves to their peers that are on the same level as them (Michie, 2013). The students are engaged because they are choosing how they will approach their learning. The officials weren’t sure. Imagine the scene…. Questions need to encourage them to think for themselves and consider other options. Independent learning focuses on the process and not simply the goal. 5. All of these definitions lead us to think of a facilitator as someone who sets up, designs, and oversees an environment that is conducive to the goal at hand but they are not at the center of the scene. Except as permitted by the applicable copyright law, you may not reproduce or communicate any content from this website, including any files downloadable from this website, without the permission of Open Colleges. Creating a sense of community and building relationships with students is essential. @IngeniousChi Thank you for the correction! That is what we need to bring back into the classroom. If a facilitator invites the student to plan the lesson, then he or she is also learning about how to teach someone else. Independent people are able to handle things on their own, and this increases their confidence. EduProtocols allow learners across grade levels to engage with the “Four Cs” – collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity – in a user-friendly format. InformED is an Open Colleges blog all about education. Student Ownership and Responsibility Are Key to Academic Success Finds New Research - InformED : Putting Students in the Driver's Seat: An Interview with Kim Cofino - InformED : 21 Myths That Undermine Educational Effectiveness - InformED : Giving Student Feedback: 20 Tips To Do It Right, Free Online Courses: Top 50 Sites to Get Educated for Free, 21 Ways to Check for Student Understanding, 30 Things You Can Do To Promote Creativity, How Peer Teaching Improves Student Learning and 10 Ways To Encourage It. Office areas are not like pristine classrooms where everything is methodical and routine. On the other hand, lack of independence means relying on others to get things done. […] via Teachers or Facilitators? Can you imagine the difference in motivation if you allowed a student to research a topic that truly piqued his or her interest? There were no written instructions with the delivery (not that they could have read it anyway). Independent learning often just means discovery learning or unguided […]. Some children hacked the tablet to customize the look and feel of the computer. This naturally creates flexibility for students with different learning styles and cognitive level. Independent learning requires the student to develop other secondary skills like planning and making priority lists and deadlines to achieve their goals. 9. With online learning, independent learners bloom. She also taught workshops to teachers about the importance of digital student management software, designed to keep students, parents, and teachers connected to the learning process. Learning to support yourself is fundamental for any success you ever hope to achieve. According to the article, it took one child 5 minutes to open the box, grab the tablet inside, find the on/off switch, and power it up. In her classroom, Kim actually allowed her students to create their own assignments. External factors involve the creation of a strong relationship between teachers and students and the establishment of an ‘enabling environment’ in which ICT can be an important element. The benefits of self-learning are well documented. The problem is even trickier when students are in younger grades, don’t have computing devices, or maybe both. The children in Ethiopia may have many many more disadvantages than our wealthy school systems, but they do have one advantage: There was no fear of failure, an abundance of innate curiosity, and a serious drive to learn and teach themselves for their own sense of satisfaction and pleasure. Give students the opportunity to learn on their own learning or school to! Form of learning increases their confidence to ensure that students can do it well learned from their research their into! Independent learning includes time management and other life skills instructor, lecturer, and this their! 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