23 Independent learning
In Chapters 21 and 22 we looked at how students learn in the lecture and small group settings. Independent learning by students outside these contexts has always been a feature of education. The importance of independent learning, where students take charge of their learning and tailor it to their own particular needs, has become increasingly recognised.
The importance of independent learning
There are a variety of reasons for the increased interest in independent learning:
• There has been a move from teacher-centred learning, where the emphasis is on what the teacher teaches, to student-centred learning with the emphasis on what the student learns.
• The excessive use of lectures as a learning experience has been criticised and more time is available in the curriculum for other learning activities.
• Curricula now include electives or options where, for part of the course, students plan their own studies as described in Chapter 17.
• Collaborative learning and peer-to-peer learning is increasingly becoming part of mainstream education as discussed in Chapter 27.
The benefits of independent learning
Independent learning offers a number of advantages:
• With a more diverse student population now admitted to medical school, the learning can be matched to the needs of the individual student.
• The move to an outcome-based model (see Section 2) has made it easier for students to understand what is expected of them and makes it possible for them to create their own personal learning programme. When asked about the necessity of attending lectures students indicate that the main reason is to learn what they should be studying. In outcome-based education the learning outcomes are transparent.
• There is an increasing focus on distance learning and hybrid models that incorporate face-to-face and distance learning. Independent learning by the student is a key feature.
• Students now learn in a variety of sites such as the community, the district hospital and clinical skills centres. This often results in the students having to take more responsibility for their own learning.
• The need for life-long learning and continuing professional development is recognised. This requires students to learn to take more responsibility for their own learning early in their training and to acquire and refine the necessary learning skills.
• Advances in technology and internet developments have resulted in rich and powerful learning experiences becoming available.
• If independent learning is used to replace some lectures, the teacher is free to engage in more rewarding activities interacting with small groups or individual students.
Benefits for the student
• Choose to work at their own pace spending whatever time is necessary to achieve the required mastery of the subject.
• Decide when and where they study. This may be in the work place, on the job or at home.
• Tailor the content of the learning to their personal learning needs.
• Select the method of learning and an instructional design to match how they best learn. Some students are visual learners while others prefer the audio channel.
• Engage to a greater extent in deep learning and reflect on the subject as they pursue their studies.
• Monitor their own progress, using appropriate learning resources, and adjust their continuing learning based on feedback received.
