Course Details

Centre for Educational Excellence in the North 

A Partnership between Salford Professional Development Ltd and the National Education Trust 

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Thursday 20th June 2013, 09.30-15.00, Media CityUK

Independent learning skills are an essential preparation for life and for transition to, and success in, vocational, college or HE courses. Independent learning skills promote pupils' ability in reviewing, recording and reflecting on their learning. They also encourage independence in problem-solving, decision-making and organisation. However, they take time to establish and, for many pupils, require deliberate teaching and modelling. Therefore, if pupils are to become actively involved in increasing their independence in their own learning, they need firstly to acquire the ability to learn how to learn.

Schools should aim to achieve flexibility in their approaches to pupils by; developing pupil independence in learning; using a wide range of teaching methods appropriate to different learning styles; considering the nature of the relationship between teachers, support staff and learners; and reviewing learning and teaching materials and resources.

Independent learning is a critical both in regards to raising standards, as well as bridging the gap between Secondary Schools, Colleges, HE and the workplace. As a result of this, the Centre for Educational Excellence is delivering an intensive one day course designed for senior leaders and classroom practitioners who wish to secure more independent learning in their schools. It will focus on how effective classroom practice, support for individual students and consistent application of policy at whole-institution level promotes greater independent learning.

So much of what we do in schools today actually compromises the ability of our students to become effective learners. Effective tracking and monitoring systems can easily lead to dependence rather than independence and classroom practice frequently sacrifices challenge in favour of strategies, which effectively spoon-feeds learners.

To address these issues we will focus on the following key questions:

• What do we understand by independent learning?
• How do we move students from compliance to active engagement in their learning?
• How can schools create opportunities for students to learn independently?
• What skills do teachers need to encourage independent learning?
• How can the curriculum best incorporate thinking and study skills?

Agenda

09:30  Registration and Coffee

10:00  Opening Presentation: Developing Independent Learning in Secondary Schools

• Enabling students to learn for themselves
• A whole-institution approach to the development of learning skills
• Curricular and other activities that provide structured opportunities for pupils’ development
• A consistent approach to skills development
• Clear and consistent expectations of learners.
• Empowering pupils to influence the way in which they approach and complete their learning.
• Increases the responsibility upon the pupil to accept their role in directing their learning
• Encouraging greater engagement with learning, reducing disaffection and supporting skills for learning throughout life

10:30  Developing Independent Learning: Case Study 1

If a teacher can inspire students and really engage them in the subject during class time, they are much more likely to continue their learning outside the classroom.

• Defining independent learning
• Key elements of independent learning
• Models of independent learning
• Skills required for independent learning
• How teachers can promote independent learning
• How schools can promote independent learning
• The impact of independent learning
• The role of assessment
• Challenges in implementing independent learning and suggested solutions
• Making the subject relate to the real world, and in particular the world in which the learner is operating
• Persistence and planning
• Reshaping pupils into independent, active learners who have their future academic potential in their own hands.

12:00   Lunch

13:00  Developing Independent Learning: Case Study 2

14:30  Closing Presentation: A Look to the Future of Independent Learning

15:00  Close

Tutor

David Birch is Deputy Director and leads the Trust's work with Advocacy Schools, and NET's professional development and school improvement programmes across the country.

Target Audience

The audience on the day will include: Head Teachers/teachers ; Heads of School; Directors of Education; Directors of Children’s Services; Education Consultants;  Academia; School Inspectors and all relevant job roles from across the Education Lancscape and organisations including Secondary Schools; Colleges; LEAs; Voluntary and Community Sector; Academia;  Private Sector and all those with an interest or engaged in developing independent learning in secondary schools.