Independent learning involves a learner acquiring knowledge through their own efforts, developing inquiry and critical thinking skills. The teacher acts as a facilitator, mentor, and guide by providing resources and feedback to support learning, while allowing learners autonomy over what and how they learn. True independent learning frees learners from rigid learning experiences. Promoting independent learning includes giving students choices over their learning, encouraging collaboration and group work, and involving students in planning and reflecting on their learning.

1. Independent
Learning

2. “Independent learning is a process, a
method and a philosophy of education
whereby a learner acquires knowledge by
his or her own efforts and develops the
ability for enquiry and critical evaluation”

3. Essentially true independent learning unshackles
the learner from being tied down to very specific
learning experiences and will allow them to direct
themselves a lot more in determining exactly what
they will learn about and how.

4. Surely the teacher is redundant?

5. Teacher as facilitator, mentor, coach and guide:
Providing learners with resource materials
Whetting learners appetites to learn
Providing learners with opportunities to test out
their learning
Giving learners feedback on their progress and
Helping learners to make sense of what they have
learned

6. What’s so great about Independent Learning
anyway?
Independent learners have abilities that will stand them in
good stead both during and beyond their education such as
their ability to:
Acquire and deploy information
Communicate effectively using different media
Organise themselves
Solve problems and
Relate to others

7. What this means in real terms:
In practice, most learning involves independent
elements such as:
Finding and collecting information
Making decisions about what to study and when
Carrying out investigations or projects
Learners learning at their own pace using ICT or
VLEs
Completing homework, extension work or
coursework assignments

8. How to promote Independent Learning:
Giving pupils choices so they can reflect on their own
interests and preferences
Encouraging group work so that learners can learn from
each other
Collaborate with pupils to set shared learning goals
Involve pupils in lesson planning
Encourage pupils to reflect and plan in learner diaries
Encourage self and peer editing before work is handed in

9. Students:
 Its easier with many brains
 We all do things in different ways
 Rich talk during discussions
 Working in a group fosters independence

10. Teachers:
 There are fewer ‘units’ to supervise
(instead of 30 students , you have 7 groups)
 You can spend more time observing the
students and assessing them.

11. Assessment
 Informal observation
 Formal observation (recorded)
 Self assessment
 Peer assessment

13. THANK YOU