How to make Students Responsible for their Own Learning?

Let your students own their learning

Allowing children to take responsibility for their learning is the first step towards establishing a solid foundation for their education. We need to take more responsibility to actively encourage students to take adequate responsibility for what they learn and this essentially means, they on their own figure out what is worth reading and what needs to be learnt, rather than the teachers telling them that. While the teacher may have ten or more responsibility with matters related to the students, the students have just one; learning. The teacher sure cannot learn anything for the students, as much as they would love to, but rather any actions that will channel them to do so.

Taking responsibility for their own learning

It is time you actually think through these lines. For one, we know the schools actually hand out curriculum every year, but that’s not the learning we are talking about. The curriculum of the school is about the holistic idea of the things they should know and the basics of higher learning. But encouraging them to learn on their own and thus take responsibility means, to have them pick out books and ideas of interest that they like. And, how can you as a teacher or parent help? Here are some ways the Cambridge school in Hyderabad achieve this.

• Let them make the decision: Allow them to make the decision on how they think they will learn the best. Let them create their own opportunities to pursue their interest and find out the many means to put to practice, their skill set. To foster a creative expression of learning, bring in technology as the next medium of learning.

• Do minimal talking: Expecting all the students to respond the way is not the right approach. Thus, it is at best you as a teacher do very less talking and allow your child to effectively share their ideas with each other and communicate to all in the class. Allow them to construct meaning on their own and you don’t have to give them a nod to all what they speak. This way, they are more responsible and that their ideas and interests do matter.

• Goal setting: The next way is to ask them to set goals. Once they do, by the end of a period of days, allow them to reflect on their goals and how much they have reached. Let them define their goals for learning and make sure to provide constructive feedback. Create small blog spaces around the classroom or through computers and let them jot down what they feel. This way, the student will take more responsibility towards their goal and by all means, take measures to appropriately act on them. Since blogs are not forced and are purely based on their interest, you don’t need to give them the push.

• Focus on Learning: Focus on what the students learn. Always start with the why question and give them the route to discuss further and deeply. Using the right tech tools to help their learning will be an added advantage.

• Never control learning: This means, don’t plan out your class. If you do so, you are actually controlling their learning and directing it to a planned out lecture. Instead, you can plan out some thought provoking ideas and this will automatically lure the students to active participation in the class. This, way they will direct the class and you will merely provide feedback.

There are umpteen ways of bringing your child to actively participate in the class and allowing them to take ownership of their learning. Chart out the many ways of doing so. Our suggestion is to not, you as a teacher, channel their thoughts and what they learn, but allow them to take route to what they like and how they see and want teaching to be.