BEING AN INDEPENDENT LEARNER

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BEING AN INDEPENDENT LEARNER

• Making the most of studying at university

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Why do you think that studying at university
might be different to studying at school or
college?

• Take a few minutes to think about this and
  discuss it with the person next to you

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3 Keys to Independent Learning

1. You must possess high levels of personal
   motivation work to sustain this
2. You will need good time management skills
3. You will be able to reflect upon, and adapt
   effectively, aspects of your learning

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Typical Features of Dependent Learners

• You predominantly respond to the pressures of the
  system through deadlines, penalties marks.
• The content and resources you utilise are
  determined by your tutors.
• You follow your tutors instructions to letter
  and dont go much beyond it. You find it
  sufficient.
• You find little opportunity in your studies to go
  beyond tutors instructions, and you may not be
  encouraged to do it either.

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Typical Features of Independent Learners

• You respond to the external pressures, but you
  are also seeking personal satisfaction and what
  to learn as much as you can.
• Although your tutors have given guidance on
  resources you need, you happily seek out your own
  resources.
• You are keen to develop personal strategies for
  learning.
• You are keen to reflect on what and how you
  learn.

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The time management grid
Urgent Not urgent
Important Crises Pressing problems Deadlines Preparations Lectures / seminars Preparation Prevention Value-setting / creating Planning Relationships
Not Important Interruptions (eg some calls / emails) Some meetings Some pressing issues Some popular activities Trivia Junk mail Some calls / emails Time wasters Escapist pursuits
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Reflecting on your learning

• Try to be actively engaged with your studies and
  always seek to improve your results
• Identify your strengths Think how you can use
  them to your best advantage, but also how you can
  make them even stronger
• Identify your weaknesses Actively explore ways
  to address these and turn them into strengths

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Remember!

• If you always do what you have always done, you
  will always get what you have always got!

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The importance of Feedback

• Feedback is very important for your academic and
  intellectual development
• Scholarship in universities proceeds by what is
  often termed the critical method
• Feedback can take many forms, including
  face-to-face, written (on your work or perhaps by
  email), group / plenary feedback

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Receiving and using feedback

• Remember that all of us in universities receive
  feedback on a regular basis, whether students or
  staff
• Be open to feedback, even though it may sometimes
  be given less sensitively than it should dont
  be defensive or closed to the idea of feedback,
  and look for the useful comments, positive or
  negative

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Receiving and using feedback

• Dont feel that you necessarily have to accept
  all the feedback comments you receive, but dont
  simply reject the feedback out of hand
• Actively reflect upon the feedback and develop
  practical ways to adapt your learning in light of
  it. Put these changes into practice thereafter
• Do approach tutors seek clarification if you
  are unclear about aspects of their feedback

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Key points to remember

• Take responsibility for your learning and try to
  be an independent learner, but dont hesitate
  to seek help and support if you need it
• Reflect on your learning and be willing to adapt
  where you identify weaknesses in your approach to
  learning or your skills
• Use things like feedback effectively