SELF STUDY METHOD OF LEARNING- WHAT IS IT?

On 26th/04/2020,The Ministry of Education released homeschooling packages to

enable self-study in amid coronavirus lockdown. The homeschooling materials

were released after the ministry designed a framework for the provision of

continued learning during the stay-home directive. Ministry of Education says it

worked with a consortium of different stakeholders, under the guidance of the

National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), to develop standardized study

lesson packages. However, the question is; were the learners/parents ready for

the self-study approach of learning? do the learners understand what it means?

What is the parent/ learner’s role in the self-study method of learning? To answer

these questions and more, I have compiled some notes that will help both the

learner and parent in this new normal method of learning. Read below;

WHAT IS SELF STUDY?

Self-studying is a learning method where students direct their own studying—

outside the classroom and without direct supervision. Since students are able to

take control of what (and how) they are learning, self-study can be a very valuable

way for many students to learn.

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 1

Self-study and traditional classroom learning can be used together to help your

child get the most out of his or her learning experience. Together, these methods

help students learn and retain information better, helping boost comprehension,

grades, and motivation.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-STUDY

 Self-studying is a great method students can use to enhance their learning

experience, whether they are studying for a course or learning about a topic

for fun.

 Using self-study, students are able to go beyond simply learning what their

class textbooks and instructors teach them. By practicing self-study, they

are encouraged to further explore topics they are interested in, developing

stronger study skills as a result.

 One of the major advantages of self-study is that students can take control

over their own learning. And when students have control, they become

even more interested in learning.

THE BENEFITS OF SELF-STUDY FOR STUDENTS

 Students learn more effectively. Exploring a topic on his or her own

encourages a child to actively engage with the information. Self-studiers

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 2

 are able to think about topics more deeply and make connections between

what they are learning. Hence able to remember it better.

 Self-study also helps build study skills a child can use to explore new topics

or tackle challenging schoolwork.

 Students discover more about the topics they’re studying. Self-study is all

about searching out new information on a topic your child is interested in.

Seeking out this information themselves gives students a chance to learn

more about that topic (rather than just what they are taught in class).

 It can boost students’ self-esteem. As students do more self-study, many

become more confident learners. They are able to see themselves as an

independent person who is able to learn new things without anyone

helping them. This can be a major motivation boost for students.

 Students can learn at their own pace. Self-study allows students to take

learning at their own pace, focusing on areas they are most interested in

(or want to understand a bit better). This helps reduce feelings of

frustration, anxiety, or boredom that students may struggle with in a

classroom setting.

 Encourages curiosity. Curiosity is one of the biggest (and often overlooked)

pieces of motivating students to learn. When students aren’t engaged with

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 3

 what they are learning, they absorb less of the information. They study to

memorize rather than understand. Self-study allows students to choose

something they are interested in and excited to learn about, leading to a

more effective learning experience

 It enables a student continue with studies where the physical classroom

environment and a teacher is absent like in today’s case of Covid 19

HOW A PARENT CAN HELP HIS/HER CHILD BECOME AN EFFECTIVE SELF-STUDIER

1. Find resources on the topic. Help your child seek out resources that provide

more information on the topic he or she is learning about. Books, articles, and

educational videos are all highly effective ways to increase his or her

understanding of new concepts.

2. Talk about what your child is learning. Have a conversation with your child

about what he or she is learning, and which topics your child is most excited

about. Talking about what he or she is learning is a great way for your child to

boost comprehension and motivation to learn

3. Use different study methods. Every student has his or her preferred study

method, and that’s no different when self-studying. The great thing about self-

study is that your child can choose what works best for him or her. Encourage

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 4

your child to try different study techniques, like reading books, watching

educative videos, creating mind maps, or some other activity that helps your child

process the information.

4. Have the required tools. Being prepared is the number one secret to becoming

a great self-studier. Ensure your child has all the study tools he or she needs to

make the most of each self-study session. Tools your child will need for the most

effective self-study session include:

 A study area—with a desk or table, free from distractions, clutter, and well

aerated

 A computer/smart phone with internet data—so your child can read,

watch, and listen to online resources and do further research e.g. using

Encarta, google etc.

 Study tools—including pens, highlighters, and paper so your child can

create organized study notes

5. Ensure the child Studies in short, frequent sessions

 Instead of treating your study session like a marathon, break up your

material by topic into a series of short sessions

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 5

  Allow your child to have short breaks. That way, he/she won’t be staring at

his/her books or computer for too long while wearing on his/her focus, and

his brain can absorb the material more easily.

6. Set realistic goals for your child. 

 Setting work goals for your child, the ones that realistically fit in with

his/her life and other commitments, is important when creating self-study

habits.

 You can set your child up by assigning only a certain number of chapters for

him/her to read each night/ day,

 adjusting your child’s workload according to how hectic his/her schedule is

in any given week/day, and giving them a mental break each week to let

their mind rest.

7. Allow your child review material the same day he/she learns it. 

After taking notes in an online course, or reading the next chapter in their

textbook, make sure they review all the new material, by typing up their notes,

practicing new skills, or reading over a chapter again, to help it resonate.

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 6

8. Have a schedule

Self-education should be a commitment, not a pastime. Make sure to fit it in your

child’s schedules as a regular activity with deadlines and responsibilities.

9. Secure a dictionary for your child

Of course, your child can also use an online dictionary like Merriam-

Webster or Dictionary.com, but you also need a printed dictionary that he/she

will use. what they are studying from books, Studies, textbooks and other

important materials are often written in a highly intellectual language, a child will

need interpretations to understand what the authors are trying to say.

As a rule of thumb, whenever you don't know a word, spend a few minutes to look

it up. Then challenge yourself to use this new word in a conversation in the next

24 hours.

10. Talk to experts

One can learn a lot from meaningful conversations. Find people who are experts

on the topics of your child’s interests and ask questions. Nothing beats one-to-

one communication with inspiring people.

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 7

In fact, if you'd like to truly master a topic, find a mentor and find a way to get this

person to guide you through the process. You can give this person a call or make

an appointment for a face to face conversation

11. Carry out an academic audit

 Try as much as possible to follow up your child’s daily academic work from

self-study.

 If there is an e-learning school plat form, find out if your child has down

loaded the work and done it

 Try to get in touch with the author of the work sent {subject/ class teacher}

for the case of watsup or e-learning school platforms, for the deadlines and

further instructions

NB; with a lot of social media rumours, speculations and general uncertainty on

when the schools will re-open, many learners are likely to lose interest in doing

any academic work during this lock down using self-study approach hence the

urgent need for a parent’s intervention

Stay safe, keep social distance, use face masks, as we pray for God’s protection

No Pains No Gains

COMPILED BY ORONO SAMUEL- NDEJJE SSS 2020

Orono Samuel- NDEJJE SSS 0702 655043 pg. 8