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 Easy bits..

Course Content Independent Learning Easy bits.. are not taught, instead …. an Independent Learning assignment is set

Independent learning Assignment Task 1. Task 2. Task 3. Task 4. References:

own words! no ILT printouts! resource rather than syllabus centred at first easy clearly defined resource rich internet video topic box social learning teams study buddies Thought provoking NOT exclusively solitary, or book and biro What tasks? not marking intensive

Geoff’s Patent Independent Learning Tuner

Independent learning Assignment Task 1. Task 2. Task 3. Task 4. References:

Geoff’s Patent Independent Learning Tuner

What’s the problem?

Students may not have the skills to learn independently

Studyskills neversometimesusually Ask others for help Underline key points …. Competency approachp30-31

Studyskills neversometimesusually Ask others for help 1 Underline key points 1 …. Competency approach

Studyskills neversometimesusually Ask others for help 12 Underline key points 1 2 …. Competency approach

Kolb’s Learning Cycle Do Apply Review Learn

Do Apply Review Learn Learning to learn Independent Learning Assignment Test

Do Apply Review Learn Learning to learn Independent Learning Assignment Test What happened? (competency questionnaire)

Do Apply Review Learn Learning to learn Independent Learning Assignment Test What happened? (competency questionnaire) Why did this happen? what did you find difficult? what could you do about that?

Do Apply Review Learn Learning to learn Independent Learning Assignment Test What happened? (competency questionnaire) Why did this happen? what did you find difficult? what could you do about that? How do I do better next time? = target

Independent learning Assignment 2 Task 1. Task 2. Task 3. Task 4. References: New Target Target

Course Content Occasional use of Independent Learning Easy bits..

Course Content Continuous use of Independent Learning Easy bits..

topic Principles Key points Get the structure first … A solution to the ‘no time to teach’ problem?

Principles Key points Get the structure first …….then add the detail topic

Principles Key points Get the structure first …….then add the detail topic

Principles Key points Get the structure first …….then add the detail topic

Principles Key points Get structure with: Advance organisers Graphic organisers Reasoning tasks in class Class discussion Peer explaining Note making etc

Principles Key points Add the detail with: Homeworks Assignment tasks Independent learning tasks Reading tasks Highlighting tasks ILT/ICT Teaching Without Talking topic

What are the uses and the advantages and disadvantages of Independent Learning? (Consider both the teacher’s and the students’ points of view.) Post-it some points Explain these Structure these Present them to the class

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

it’s a change! it’s fun! differentiates Autonomy active learners creativity & effectiveness identity and esteem, even mental health! Develops IL skills for: progression work life Why use IL? saves teaching time students learn to take responsibility for learning