Does independent learning mean working on your own?

Does independent learning mean working on your own?

No, independent learning does not mean working on your own. You may well find that you share a problem with another student on your course or even in another discipline. Working with someone else, encouraging each other and talking through difficulties may be the most effective way of working independently. If you have a problem, explaining it to someone else can help to clarify issues for you. Explaining a concept to someone without shared background knowledge is a very good way of making sure you understand the full implications of the concept.

If you are lucky enough to have PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) timetabled in your subject area then you have a ready-made opportunity for working independently with your peers. PASS enables you to talk through difficulties and share knowledge so that you understand the material more deeply (and can remember it more when it comes to exams). Even without PASS you can meet up with classmates yourself to do the same thing.

How can independent learning help you?

Being able to work independently is a skill highly valued by employers so it may ultimately help you in securing a job. In the short term, it may help you to feel more "in control" of what you are doing. Some elements of independent learning are: setting your own goals and deadlines; organising yourself, your work and your time; evaluating your use of time and your work. These can have immediate benefits in enabling you to become more efficient and effective.

Weaknesses in any of the skills given in the activity below will mean that you are not working as effectively as you might. Devoting some time to improving study skills will be helpful. It may be better for you to work on these skills with someone else, rather than on your own.

From the skills listed below, decide whether there are any you need to improve.

Organising yourself and your time

Note-taking

Gathering and using information

Reading

Listening

Writing

Speaking

Remembering

Working with others

The areas where you need or want to work independently may, on the other hand, relate directly to your particular subject(s) of study. Here, any independent work will increase your confidence and may help you, both immediately and when it comes to exams or other assessments.

Have you, for example, considered reading around a topic before a lecture is given on it? This type of independent preparation can help you to gain much more from the lecture itself because you are in tune with the subject matter and can think more critically about what is being presented.