What is Independent Learning?

Independence is one of the big buzzwords these days. Adapting to and coping with the constantly changing world of work and life is necessary.

In addition, independent problem solving and cooperative and communicative work in a team, representing independent learning goals, are among the most frequently requested essential qualifications in job advertisements.

You must have heard the term a few times regarding education and self-sufficiency, but what is independent learning? Independent learning is a form of education in which youngsters learn without the assistance of parents or instructors. Students who pursue knowledge independently can conduct their research and determine which instructional materials are most beneficial to them.

It is an immensely beneficial skill for finishing school and college curricula, working environments, and beyond.

Benefits of Independent Learning

No matter how you look at it, independent learning comes with a plethora of positive skills and can aid your child greatly in their quest for knowledge. Moreover, the encouragement of independent learning in young kids has many advantages. Among them are the following:

• Increasing your time management and organizational abilities.

It’s essential to know how to manage your time and develop good organizational skills from a young age. It can help you become a better-functioning adult.

• The capacity to work in a variety of situations.

Teach your children to adapt to any situation and have the skills on hand to do so.

• Developing initiative and the ability to think creatively.

Independent learning fosters imagination and creativity, which in turn gives children an edge when it comes to education and life in general.

• Assisting with reading and writing skills.

Reading and writing are essential skills for anyone to have, and making your children become experts at a young age can help them exponentially.

How to improve independent learning

We know the many advantages that come from learning independently, but how can you improve the process of learning in a way that benefits you to the maximum? Let’s find out.

• Create a creative self-service area at home. This works particularly well when your children are still young. For example, if there is a corner in the house where children can find pads, pencils, watercolors, brushes, scissors, and other craft materials, they are more inclined to experiment on their own than to ask for help.
• Create a homework routine. Children with a well-defined homework routine, including a set time and place, tend to do better in school. When there are clear guidelines about when, where, and how to get work done, productivity usually increases.
• Initially, please help your child answer the first question of a homework assignment, and then let them answer the following few questions themselves. Encourage them to find the answer themselves, but if they’re having trouble, you can help them by pointing out how they can find the answer.
• Agree on a limit for the time your child will take to complete the rest of the homework independently so they can focus on their work. You may be able to set a timer on your phone. The time limit should be adequate and reasonable so that the child can complete the task without stress and in neat handwriting.
• Gradually move away from your child once they are used to you sitting with them when they do their homework. You can help him start his homework and sit near him, but not right next to him. This will help them feel good about you being there, but at the same time, encourage them to do the work on their own. Over time you can create more distance until it can work entirely on its own while you are busy with other things – probably your work!
• Take your time after your child has done their homework on their own. During this time, focus entirely on your child. You can play a game together or read a story. This is a good reward for completing its work on its own.
• Remind your child that fighting is good. You want your kids to be confident in their abilities, but they should also know that no one gets anywhere without problems. Making mistakes is part of it. If your child is having a tough time with a problem, let them know it’s okay. Help him look at the problem from a different angle that may lead to better results.
• Talk about future goals. Some tasks may seem redundant or boring to your child. In these cases, explain that the skills they acquire might eventually help them achieve their goals, even if it seems pointless.
• Have your child ask their teacher for help. Please encourage your child to ask their teacher for help first and not you. That way, you remain the supporter, but your child learns how easy it is to get help in a self-motivated manner.
• Stand firm. If your child doesn’t even try to work on their own or claims they can’t do something they can do very well with you sitting by, let them know that you have complete confidence in their ability to finish the task on their own but only help them if he needs your help. It’s not that easy to say “no,” but it’s worth seeing your child gain confidence over time.

There you have it. The many benefits of independent learning and how you can improve it. But let’s suppose you try to summarize these terms and their meanings. In that case, independent learning can be described as a process in which the students take action on their initiative, i.e., without being prompted by others.

Work processes should be structured independently, and a suitable form of work or learning should be selected from known forms, whereby at the end of this process, there should always be a review of the goals set. Furthermore, students should be able to “define their own goals and take responsibility for their behavior.” Independent learning is, therefore, always to be seen in the context of self-determination, self-responsibility, and self-control.