;University of WestminsterWestminster Business School Module code and title: BKEY401 Professional CompetencesFormative Essay onIndependent Learning Student Name: Aisha Francis Student ID number: W1477552 Seminar leader name: Sumita Ketker Word Count: 805 Date: Thursday 16th October 2014 |

Independent Learning; Developed through the structure of Higher Education

Independent learning is a concept used within the learning of secondary and higher education. This method is used throughout an individual’s lifetime which aids those individuals to grasp different skills within using the method of independent learning. Meyer (2008) suggests that independent learning is the foundation of ‘Self – Regulated Learning’ which also suggests that each individual is to gather the understanding of what they are expected to do of their tutors and how independent learning is to assist them with their work. This method of education promotes the motivational aspect of learning and how each individual is to take on the responsibility of their knowledge intake, along with creating a clear and well thought out structure with their teachers to help improve their learning environment.

Although this definition proves the importance of Independent Study a secondary source implies that independent study is something more in depth. Zimmerman and Schuck (2001) as cited in Meyer (2008) state that “Self-Regulated learning is the way in which learning learn to control their thoughts, feelings and actions”, this information mimics the thoughts of Meyer as they both imply that Independent learning is for the learners use to enrich their skill for higher education which they can use beyond their study.
Learning is a key way to developing a lifestyle and understanding the various lifestyles and choices of others. It is important for individuals to be able to conduct tasks and learn on their own; therefore Independent Learning is key to ever individual. It lays down the foundation of self understanding which develops into a number of other skills which is needed to develop a high achievement in education.
In order to ensure that an individual develops their Independent Learning skills it requires other skills which are cognitive and metacognitive.
Cognitive skills are just part of the combination which helps develop Independent Learning. Oxford learning (2014) suggests that cognitive skills are “ability to process information, reason, remember, and relate” This implies that an individual undergoing higher education will need to think about the information they are asked to look and process that information carefully. This is a key point as working independently requires a pupil to work on their own, with no guided help. The additional points which add to this skill is also very important as it is key that pupils need the ability to remember the information needed.

As these individuals are working on their own they will need to think deeper into the work which they are asked to look at. Within the Cognitive skill, there are up to 4 smaller skills which need to be mastered in order to use Independent Learning successfully. This is a combination of Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Decision Making, and Priority Setting. Saundra K. Lipe, Sharon Beasley (2003) implies that these 4 pointers are crucial in the makeup of Independent Learning and that every individual will complete theses points when undergoing independent study.
Metacognitive skills contribute to the method of independent learning as it holds a set of special skills aiding an individual to work on their own. Meichenbaum & Biiemiller (1998) cited in Hartman (2001) suggest that “High achieving students have been found to process more metacognitive awareness and engage in more self-regulatory behaviour than low achieving students.” This statement implies that students who partake in independent study tend to use the metacognitive skill rather than those who struggle to achieve it. Using this skill aids the knowledge and the strategies used and automatically improve the individual’s performance.
Mastering the skill of Independent Study is something which all individuals should strive to achieve, especially when going through higher education. The choice to go into higher education is one of a determined individual who in many ways have begun the process of independency through making that choice, therefore continuing to complete their learning in Independent study will test their determination as well as the outcome of their education. Personal beliefs lead me to believe that Independent learning assists an individual in many ways and one of them is that the student improves on their performance. In terms of grades and gradual understanding of the topics studied, they will find that taking part in their own independent study will help improve their own performance and understanding. Meyer, NH, DS, SF (2008) believes that independent study will have “increased motivation and confidence and greater student awareness of their limitations and their ability to manage them”
To conclude, independent study is a choice of learning which is high recommended to students who are in higher education. Although students in higher education are most likely to partake in several hours of independent study, this method is slowly being filtered down to the younger generations, starting out in their education, preparing them for further study and allowing them to master the skill at a younger age.

Reference List
Cassidy, S. (2011). Self-regulated learning in higher education: Identifying key component processes.Studies in Higher Education, 36(8), pp.989--1000.
Hartman, H. (2001). Metacognition in learning and instruction. 1st ed. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Lipe, S. and Beasley, S. (2004). Critical thinking in nursing. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Meyer, B., Hayewood, N., Sachdev, D. and Faraday, S. (2014). Independent Learning: Literature Review. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222277/DCSF-RR051.pdf [Accessed 16 Oct. 2014].
Oxfordlearning.com, (2014). Cognitive Learning | Oxford Learning. [online] Available at: http://www.oxfordlearning.com/cognitive-learning/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2014].

de