Independent Learning

All teachers know that independence doesn’t just happen. Learners need to be enabled to make the best use of independence, something which applies equally to teachers.
Common strategies throughout the school will enable learners to apply independent learning strategies consistently and ever more effectively.
The ability to work independently clearly takes time to develop.

Some key aspects of any definition of independence are:

• Understanding what you are learning/expected to do
• Choice
• Reflection
• Asking for appropriate support when needed
• Research skills
• Accountability
• So, in order to develop the independence of your students, consider the following:
• Are you sure they understand exactly what they are supposed to be learning?
• Where is there a choice in how they are learning?
• What choices and decisions are they being expected to make?
• How are they being supported or prompted to make decisions? What decision-making strategies are they developing?
• How are they prompted and supported to reflect on their learning and choices?
• What research skills do they have/need to learn?
• What mechanisms of accountability are in place? – Deadlines, responsibility to others etc.

Twenty things you might do to promote independence (in no particular order) :

• Make sure that success criteria are clear.
• Have examples of high level work available.
• Set clear deadlines
• Give students plenty of practice in “chunking” big tasks or projects
• Ensure that resources are easily accessible and clearly organised.
• Establish routines such as “Ask three other people before asking the teacher.”
• Set up “How-to” resources for frequently-asked questions.
• Ask questions such as “How do you think we can approach this task/problem?
• Encourage real dialogue by using high level questioning.
• Try to set tasks which have a real audience.
• Encourage students to evaluate resources
• Encourage students to share references and links to other resources they have found e.g. On a discussion board, class wiki or even…..a notice board!
• Encourage students to teach each other and to share their ways of working.
• Set homeworks that encourage students to collaborate.
• Model how you are learning – talk through your own experiences.
• Ask for student feedback on how you could improve the learning experiences.
• Don’t plan so tightly that there’s no room for flexibility.
• Encourage students to lead the learning.
• Have clear signage to resources such as pens, rulers and other equipment. (Especially important in secondary schools where students are moving from room to room.
• Encourage students to identify the successes of others and to celebrate them.