Independent Learning - Nottingham Trent University

*Written transcript of this film is available at the bottom of the description

Learning how to study independently is crucial for succeeding in your academic studies. Most new students are aware that they'll need to learn independently, but what does it actually mean? Here we look at practical ways to take charge of your own learning and the benefits this will bring as you progress through your course.

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"In this film, we're going to look at independent learning -- what it is, how to do it and why it's important. So first of all, what does independent learning mean for a university student?

Independent learning makes a huge part of the university student experience, it's not timetabled in, so you have to organise it yourself, but it's just you going out doing extra research outside of your lectures, outside of your seminars, to try and understand more about the subjects you're studying.

All students have a lot more time that is not timetabled, that isn't structured in that way, and it's not time off. In some respects the time that you're not in lectures or in labs or in the studio is the most important time because that is where you are really making it count. You are taking charge of the way in which you learn, and to some extent, what you learn.

Why is independent learning important?

To expand your knowledge, you have come to university to kind of be an expert in certain areas. The best way to do that is: they tell you certain bits of information and then you go out and find more, you read journals you read text books and you get a better understanding of what they're talking about. You get better discussions in your seminars if you do that extra reading.

Independent learning is an important skill not just for students but for work and for life, so if I hadn't developed my ability to do independent learning, I couldn't do the job I do now, it's absolutely fundamental.

It can help change your perception, if you thought one way and someone throws out another idea it can completely change your view point on your subject, and make you want to do more reading about what they have obviously been reading.
What sorts of things does independent learning involve doing?

Whatever way best suits you, some people go to the library by themselves, print off journals and stuff.

You can get a group study room out and get a group of you in there talking about the subject. Some of you could read some journals and others read another then talk about key points.

It doesn't mean being by yourself. You're finding out other peoples viewpoints as well, getting their understanding so you have a better understanding of the subject.

You have got to think about your subject when you are outside the classroom, live it, be it and the best advice I would say is, find a group of like-minded people on your course, persuade them to create some sort of study group where you just talk about stuff over coffee. Then when you do come to those bits of the course where you're struggling a bit they will help you, they will be your lifeline, they'll support you and they can be... well friends for life basically.

Independent learning is at the heart of the university experience. If you get it right, it can be really rewarding."