Independent Learning Difficult teaching method to use, but…

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 interruption2. Argue!

Together:How the difficulties could be overcome

Independent Learning

Course Content

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

easyclearly definedresource rich

internetvideotopic 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

Geoff’s Patent Independent Learning Tuner

What’s the problem?

What’s the problem?

Students may not have the skills to

learn independently

Study skills

never sometimes usually

Ask others for help

Underline key points

….

Competency approach p30-31

Study skills

never sometimes usually

Ask others for help

1

Underline key points

1

….

Competency approach

Study skills

never sometimes usually

Ask others for help

1 2

Underline key points

1 2

….

Competency approach

Kolb’s Learning Cycle

Do

Apply Review

Learn

Do

Apply Review

Learn

Learning to learnIndependentLearningAssignment

Test

Do

Apply Review

Learn

Learning to learnIndependentLearningAssignment

Test

What happened? (competency questionnaire)

Do

Apply Review

Learn

Learning to learnIndependentLearningAssignment

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 learnIndependentLearningAssignment

Test

What happened? (competency questionnaire)

Why did this happen? what did you find difficult? what could you do about that?

How do I do betternext 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

topic

Principles

Key points

Get structure with:Advance organisersGraphic organisersReasoning tasks in classClass discussionPeer explainingNote makingetc

Principles

Key points

Add the detail with:HomeworksAssignment tasksIndependent learning tasksReading tasksHighlighting tasksILT/ICTTeaching Without Talking

topic

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 firstShare 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:

progressionworklife

Why use IL?

saves teaching time

students learn to take responsibility for learning