It’s about time that the world should start producing more independent learners.
The whole idea irrupts from the fact that we have been spending so much time in telling children what to learn instead of how to learn.
Spending few days hiding behind the books may help children in scoring higher grades, although it won’t help them, learn anything.
The earth needs people who can think independently, we need new thinkers in this world, and only an independent learner can be an independent thinker.
Students spend a considerable amount of their time in student care centers. So, a teacher has the best hopes for influencing a student, to be an independent learner.
Let’s see how?
Accept Different Answers
There are always many answers to a single question, matter of fact there are always multiple right answers to a single question.
As a teacher, your task is to encourage learning by any means. So, let the students feel free to speak their mind, correct when they are wrong, not when their answer is not the one in the book.
Allow your students choices
Let them have some options, let them learn how they want to learn, not how you want to teach them.
Try various teaching techniques in your classroom and ask your students which one they liked the best.
When kids enjoy, they learn fast; you can read our blog on what latest gadgets you can use in classrooms that can make learning fun.
Lesser Tests
When you give a bunch of students a test, they read to get higher marks. They store the information without knowing what and how to use.
Tests are the reason, our students’ ability to remember things, is being tested instead of their ability to learn things.
If you must take the test, then try grading the students by the effort they have put in. Give grace marks for extra information.
Encourage Them To Read
To learn something one must read. It is tough for students to read other books, in addition to their regular books.
But there are no shortcuts to success.
Our blog on how to develop reading habits in children may help you in this task.
Arrange group discussion
Group discussions are a great way of learning something new from fellow students. GD or group discussions are best to enhance students learning habits.
In group discussions, students will not learn new things, but they will also learn to cope up with different opinions. Unity in diversity is a basic concept students must learn.
Epilogue
These are not hard and fast rules; you can develop your own ideas to help a student be a free thinker and independent learner too.
Encourage students to ask as many questions as they want in the student care center and the classes.
The only thing to take note of here is to try not to push too much. A student should not think you are taking over her/his life.
Teachers are the shaper of the future; let’s shape a better one!
