Independent Learning
During lockdown, learning became very independent. Although lessons are back to being in person, independent learning is still a vital skill, especially as you begin to study for GCSEs/A-Levels. This week we are going to discuss some tips for learning independently as it can be difficult to navigate.
Plan your time
Planning your time is essential for independent learning, it will help you stay on top of your work and also allow you to take breaks. Time blocking is a time management method you can use by dividing your day into different blocks. Each block is dedicated to completing a specific task, such as homework from school or a hobby. You can use online calendar apps like google calendar or do this in a journal/diary. Towards the exam period, this method will be very useful as it will mean that you will be able to time block revising content as well as doing all the past exam questions for that subject. Otherwise, it can become very overwhelming and hard to accomplish.
Creating a good study space
Even though studying in a comfortable place like your bed might be very tempting, it is important to choose an environment where you will be able to focus. This could be your dining table or a desk. Switching up your study space could also be very useful. This might be rearranging your desk or completely changing your study spot from the dining table to the library. You might want to take some time to experiment and find out which study space works best for you, some people work better in environments like coffee shops, whereas others prefer silence in libraries. The environment you are in should be a distraction-free zone, it could be useful to put your phone in a different room or if you are using it to study then put it on ‘do not disturb’. Making these small changes to your study environment can greatly improve your productivity making independent learning more effective.
Taking breaks
It is very important to take regular breaks as this will help you concentrate for longer. You can use the Pomodoro technique or you can plan breaks for when you finish a task so that your ‘flow’ is not disrupted. During short breaks try and do something that won’t disrupt the flow of studying like going to fill up your water bottle or having a snack. Although it might be tempting to overwork yourself, it's important to do little but often and establish a healthy study routine that you will be able to stick to in the long term and make sure you still have time to pursue your hobbies.
Group Study
Group study can be useful to brainstorm ideas and help each other. You can use study groups to test each other with flashcards or go over past exam questions that you struggled with. However, group study can also be very distracting so make sure you finish all your independent study before participating in group study as it should be used to consolidate your learning.
Finally, remember to use all the resources around you. This might be revision guides or youtube videos for the topic you are studying. You can also ask your teachers for the best learning resources, they might have a list of books/articles for wider reading to enhance your learning. Hopefully, these tips will help you navigate independent learning as school starts. Remember that you are not alone and you should always ask for help from teachers when you are stuck!