The problem is even trickier when students are in younger grades, don’t have computing devices, or maybe both. We can learn from famous inventors whose failure in the process became the seed for amazing success down the road. Kim used an EduProtocol called Random Emoji Generator Power Paragraph to get her students excited about writing. @IngeniousChi Thank you for the correction! Independent learning allows students to apply their own unique learning style (visual, verbal, auditory, etc.) The students are engaged because they are choosing how they will approach their learning. Independent reading time, then, is not simply students reading books randomly. Independence is important for organisms to function effectively in the world. And five months later? Advertising You have a infinite number of resources and information on the Internet that … With online learning, independent learners bloom. For example, try: Professionally, continuous learning is about expanding your skills to keep up with quickly emerging developments. 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. Standardized testing is the benchmark for funding, and teachers are instructed to teach “to the test” to ensure good marks. https://t.co/5Stl4ZwNxd https://t.co/GligOG0G1a, Goal Setting: How to Set Yourself Up For Success: https://t.co/aJitaLNYpm https://t.co/K5WFrlA74W. They’ve never seen a written word anywhere- no street signs, printed books, or even cardboard packaging. Students can self-critique more effectively. Home › Blog › Why Learning to Learn is More Important than Ever! From there, the students create their own follow up project or task based on the research they have done. The world isn’t going to cheer us all on always. 5. Independent learning is also important in developing as well as improving organizational skills. Educators (experts) may act as facilitators or guides. Amplify success with a video library of teaching, Resources For Teachers and Instructional Coaches – December 2020, Support Your Classroom Conversation on Race by Connecting Virtually to Diverse Voices, Online Exclusive: Aspiring Teachers Turn to Video (Learning Forward), Why Student-Centered, Independent Learning is Important When Distance Teaching. Independent learning is rooted in effective questioning and dialogue. 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. Instead of waiting to be told what to do, students can take ownership of their own learning. The Importance of Independent Reading. However, the intention of this paper, therefore is to analyse the meaning of ‘independent learning’ and the important influence it has on a student’s academic performance. The skills you gain are transferrable to most jobs. We want our students to be active rather than passive learners. Would they even open the boxes? It is about them working out the answers rather than being told them. Then she let each student choose one of their peer’s paragraphs to revise. 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. Five different and random emoji are used to inspire students to create five different sentences. Personalized Learning in Classroom Activities. Independent learning requires the student to develop other secondary skills like planning and making priority lists and deadlines to achieve their goals. Perhaps you think of words like planner, coordinator, promoter, developer, or designer. All teachers want to develop their students into independent learners. 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. the edTPA trademarks is permitted only pursuant to the terms of a written license agreement. Independent people are able to handle things on their own, and this increases their confidence. Learning is not always a straight path. Just like food nourishes our bodies, information and continued learning nourishes our minds. 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. During the pandemic, it has become essential for students to be self-directed learners. ‘Independent learning’ often just means discovery learning or unguided […]. 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. Students who have a facilitator rather than a teacher will come to depend on themselves for a job well done. Independent learning is especially relevant when preparing students for exams. What good is genius locked up inside of someone who has no idea how to communicate to others? Lifelong learning is an indispensable tool for every career and … 14th July 2012. Independent Learning in the Classroom . Can you imagine the difference in motivation if you allowed a student to research a topic that truly piqued his or her interest? 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? All of these associations make the word “teacher” feel like a central part of the environment and the goal. Internal factors are the skills that individual students have to … Below, here are the five strategies that Kim shared with her students. Learning to support yourself is fundamental for any success you ever hope to achieve. 10 Reasons Why Educators Should Step Out of the Way and Encourage Independ…. Also, it encourages students to focus on the overarching process of learning, and not just focus on learning one skill at a time. During a traditional school day, Kim would choose a paragraph for students to revise. ‍ Today's world is dynamic and ever-changing. Although, ‘independent learning’ is not a new concept, Broad, (2006) believes that there seems to be a lack of agreement on what it actually means. 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. RESOURCE: Teachers or Facilitators? By teaching students how to think independently during this time of distance learning, we are setting them up for future success as life-long learners when they are outside of the classroom. Now what is the first thing that comes to mind when someone uses the word, “teacher”? […], […] 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. Now there are boxes with something completely foreign inside. Depth … It was a passion we both shared, e.g. This 30-minute session explores using video feedback to support teacher observation during Covid-19. The learning is defined, organised and completed by the learner. Kim had been working with her students throughout the school year on these self-directed learning strategies, so when the pandemic occurred students were set up for success. To walk-through the mechanics of the activity, an emoji is shown. Instead of waiting to be told what to do, students can take ownership of their own learning. 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. 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. But is this really true? But this can be hard when students aren’t in the classroom. 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. Independent Learning is important because it develops creativity and intellectual curiosity. 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. Words like coach, disciplinarian, faculty, instructor, lecturer, and trainer come to mind. For example, Kim’s students already knew how to work in Google Classroom and create slide decks in a collaborative manner. Facilitators are often used more in adult settings where it’s thought that adults can handle independent learning more readily. And, depending upon your industry, continuous learning could be vital to your employability. EduProtocols allow learners across grade levels to engage with the “Four Cs” – collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity – in a user-friendly format. Independent learning is a method or learning process where learners have ownership and control of their learning – they learn by their own actions and direct, regulate, and assess their own learning. Vocational Education vs Short Courses: Which Path Should You Take? When learning altered to distance teaching, she gave her students more ownership over the assignment. This is mainly because they are more prepared to take actions and do things without having to wait for support or permission from someone else. 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 officials weren’t sure. Benefits of Independent Learning for Students. What is the first thing that comes to mind when someone uses the word, “facilitator”? 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. Studies show that teaching is the highest form of learning. The question is, how do we make our teachers excellent facilitators that promote independent learning? teachers creating cellphone “how-to-teach” lessons for parents at home! The teacher stands in the way of the student’s natural curiosity. You need to be independent in order to survive in the world. They feel they are able to contribute to the world and social life surrounding them whether in reception or school. Why is experiential learning important? Independent learning forces students to grapple with both their strengths and weaknesses through the educational process. 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. Flexibility for different levels of intelligence. Passion and curiosity cement learning. When the process is part of the goal, failure isn’t quite so scary. There is a difference between regurgitating materials on an exam vs. understanding the process of learning. This also means that you will have … If a facilitator invites the student to plan the lesson, then he or she is also learning about how to teach someone else. In the absence of technology for every student, districts are leaning on the two P’s of teaching: packets…, © 2011-20 R3 Collaboratives Privacy Tweet. In so doing, they hope that the pupils in their charge can take control of their own learning – both inside the classroom and beyond. https://t.co/HKAKLdIfHz https://t.co/mu3D57f1qg, Women In Leadership: What's the Status? In his article, Five Strategies For Independent Learning, Dennis Pierce shares how fifth-grade-teacher Kim Voge empowered her students for success in a traditional school and distance learning settings. 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. We want our students to be active rather than passive learners. 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. On the other hand, lack of independence means relying on others to get things done. Here is what I came up with… Independent Learning is learning that is self-directed. Motivation to climb over obstacles is far easier to muster when the student is allowed to choose what educational mountain to tackle first. What were the benefits of independent learning for students? 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? These include: Motivation; Independence; Initiative; Time management; Organisation and multi-tasking; Strong reading and writing skills; How can I become an independent learner? 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. 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. Independent people naturally tend to be a little more confident on handling issues affecting their lives. This naturally creates flexibility for students with different learning styles and cognitive level. Independent learners are more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. Policy Terms of Use U.S. 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. Independent learning includes time management and other life skills. Kim also creates distance learning assignments that ask students to choose their own topic to research at home. The role of the teacher is to facilitate learning. Creating routines helps students to work and learn independently. 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. 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. Can I Use Covid-19 Teaching Videos for Meaningful Teacher Observations? 3. 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. (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. What High Achieving Students Have In Common : InformED, New Study Demonstrates How iPads Improve Learning - InformED. Being independent implies having the ability to make decisions. Continuous learning helps you avoid stagnation in any profession and ensures that you keep moving forward toward reaching your full potential. In becoming independent, the child also gains a sense of importance and belonging. This writing exercise generally happens once per week. It represents a shift … Why is independent learning important? This has really spoke to me, thank you. 2. They just take the bull by the horns. The students enjoyed setting their own pace and holding themselves accountable. Unfortunately, money often drives many of the current educational trends. Study independently online with a Certificate in Education Support, An article in the MIT Technology Review in October discussed a bold experiment conducted by the One Laptop Per Child Organization. That is what we need to bring back into the classroom. Julie DeNeen has her bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of New Haven. The workflow or learning routine within EduProtocol stays the same, so students can focus on the content. In a classroom with a traditional teacher, the students are relying on the educator to feed them the proper instruction, principles, and training. When the fear of failure disappears, it is much easier to learn the art of self-critique. InformED is an Open Colleges blog all about education. Share this. Not every student is going to work at the same pace. Here’s the new emoji generator.). However, there can often be something of a gap between our stated intentions and what we do on a day-to-day basis. © Open Colleges 2020-2026. 4. 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. 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. Independent learning requires the student to develop other secondary skills like planning and making priority lists and deadlines to achieve their goals. Traditional teachers and classrooms make little room for failure as everything is based on grades and exams. It is important to remember that one of the key aims of assessment for learning is to enable pupils to become increasingly independent. Imagine the scene…. They must also learn how to deal with distraction effectively. The Importance Of Independent Learning. Two weeks later they were able to sing the ABC song. The students chose any topic that was school-appropriate and created activities for their peers to complete. Kim reports that quite a few of her students enjoyed the independent nature of distance learning. Some students naturally become independent learners based on life circumstances and learning style. The review found some evidence of the benefits of independent learning, including: improved academic performance; Children who develop independent learning skills at a young age can apply these to many areas of learning and life, both at school and beyond. The benefits of self-learning are well documented. 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). Distanced Teaching? Failure is not an option for many of the students who are terrified of a less than perfect report card. In her classroom, Kim actually allowed her students to create their own assignments. Use of There were no written instructions with the delivery (not that they could have read it anyway). The feedback from parents was positive due to the fact that the students were challenged but able to complete the work on their own. Just look at all the advantages an independent learner takes away from their own education. This naturally creates flexibility for students with different learning styles and cognitive level. Traditional educators can learn from this- we must move out of the way and give students the opportunity to learn on their own. 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