Encouraging the skill of self-study among learners
“As I move into a class of grade VIII for a substitution period I find the class quite pre-occupied
withthemselves, as I try to intervene and find out more about their preoccupation I realize that most of them are engaged in self-study.”
This generation Z of today believes in collaboration, exchange of ideas and is global in outreach, they are not satiated by restrictive processes and conventional structures. Yes this is transformation age and forth coming revolution which has descended in our society gradually. But I would also like reiterate that the role of a teacher – facilitator will never be undermined as this generation learners perceives the teachers as resources or guide mentors. Perhaps we have to redesign the role of the teacher’s ad planners, developers or designers who will help to create a conducive learning environment for the learners with growth mindsets and independent thinking.
There are several occasions when we ask the learners in classroom totake up group projects &presentations or provide opportunities to work on models/ experiments encouraging the learners to exerciselife skills of decision making and creative and critical thinking skills. In these situations the role of the teacher is directed towards orienting, providing guidelines/resources/structure sharing objectives and outcomes of the tasks assigned to the learners.
With the increasing advent of technology, online encyclopedias and online courses are at finger tips of the learners of today, they are independent to gather information/ analyze and interpret.
Education is no longer confined to just classroom and it does not meet the intellectual needs of all the learners in this progressive age and time.
Schools should instill & develop effective study habits from an early age among the learners. it shall go along way and be extremely helpful fostering independent thinking and empowered citizens.
In A progressive school like ours we follow a child centric curriculum which envisions to provide the learners with opportunities to explore, experience and question the established through project and enquiry based learning. The learners indulge in self learning manifesting in better learning and retention of information effectively, which may not happen in a conventional classroom.
Self study takes a lot of discipline on the part of the learner and it come with practice and gradually become an effective learning tool with better results. It shall enhance independent thinking and creative and critical thinking skills..
As a school we may emphasize on some of the following factors which will surely enable the young learners to adapt to self-learning:
- Set achievable targets
- Discover your learning style
- Stick to your created study schedule and periodically review it
- Carefully select online study material – as there is a lot information available one needs to sort the information given as per the requirement of the topic/subject in hand.
Life skills like effective communication, teamwork, decision making, problem solving and leadership are very significant for every learner to imbibe. Self learning techniques shall prepare the learners adequately for future too. The recent education system gives more importance to collaboration, team work, and empathy.
.
As generation Z grows savvier, independent learning is seen as a direction for the process of education and not an absolute standard. It is a shift in responsibility from the teacher to the learner so that by degrees the learner assumes greater responsibility for directing his or her own learning process. And thus there is a new role for the teachers in the horizon one based not on traditional transmission of knowledge but on process oriented teaching.
With the world going digital the coming generation needs to become more disciplined at working independently and better at managing their own time, fostering an ardent attitude to self-directed learning should be one of the top priorities of schools today.
Sharmila Chatterjee
Principal
Billabong High International School, Noida
Some quotes:
- Every child has the inert potential to bring forth a major change towards the betterment of human kind
- Success and failure will come and go, what remains with you is your learning from both
- Choose your path and goal, never give up.
- Education is a means and tool, learning is a lifelong journey
- In India’s rich heritage and scriptures the role of ateacher is always glorified and considered as the epitome of knowledge and learning.