Independent learning

There is a debate at a college level whether Independent learning should be included in the first year curriculum, considering it as one of the secrets to success in tertiary education (Rachael Field, James Duffy & Anna Huggins, 2014).  

According to Zimmerman (1986, p. 308), when students are able to self-regulate their learning, they: 

• have an understanding of their own approach to learning and how best to maximize their learning in the most efficient ways
• are motivated to take responsibility for their learning 
• are able to work with others to enhance the depth and breadth of their learning

I personally think that is a skill that should be learned at a secondary level as well. And for doing this, we have to adapt the idea and the resources to our learners. This presentation is my adaptation, a simple way of introducing our learners to their independence in our Spanish class.

If you put this into practice in your class, please contact me and let me know how it went.

There are more ways of motivating our students to be more independent, if you are interested in this approach, check these posts below:

• Developing strategic competence through portfolios: a language biography
• Flexible Homework
• Mr Luna is absent

Sources:

• Independent Learning Skills, Self-Determination Theory and Psychological Well-being: Strategies for Supporting the First Year University Experience [pdf]
• Independent learning: a literature review and a new project [pdf]

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