How individual learning sparks enthusiasm and develops valuable skills
Every half term, KS2 and KS3 pupils studying online with Wendover have the opportunity to choose a topic to study in more depth for an independent learning project.
Rachel Smith, Head of Pastoral Care, explains how these personal projects work, and their value in unlocking key skills for life.
Choosing a project
Every full-time student at Wendover has one lesson set aside every week for a project that will take half a term to complete. Pupils are free to choose what they want to research, and Rachel enjoys learning alongside her pupils.
“Often, they will choose something that already interests them, whether a hobby or current affairs – we see a huge range of subjects. Recent projects have included looking at the technical aspects of windsurfing; astronomy; the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; Marvel comics and breeds of cows!” exclaims Rachel, delighted to facilitate projects that inspire pupils to research and learn.
Independent learning
Project work gives pupils the opportunity to explore an idea in depth, and to research suitable digital resources and presentational possibilities.
“Pupils work on these projects independently, but not in isolation,” Rachel points out: “Teachers drop in to see how they are progressing, and provide live interaction and feedback during the lesson more effectively than they could in a classroom.”
For students used to being guided through their learning, taking charge of what they want to do and how they do it is an exciting step. From the outset their thinking skills are challenged as they look into what will work, with Rachel and her team offering support but giving students the freedom to follow their own ideas. “It is often a liberating experience, whatever their age, and fires their enthusiasm to do well.”
Literacy skills and critical thinking
Researching source materials and putting findings into their own words give students the opportunity to exercise their literacy skills, which notably improve over the course of the academic year. They must also plan and prioritise what to include, which supports critical thinking.
“Our pupils are really proud of their projects,” says Rachel. “We encourage them to share them with their parents, and even if a student is only with us for a couple of terms, their project gives them a tangible example of what they have achieved.”
Public speaking skills
At the end of every half term pupils share their projects with the rest of the class (up to six students), usually as a digital presentation. Rachel says pupils enjoy seeing the wide range of projects.
“It is a lovely opportunity for pupils to see what the others have been doing, and to learn how to give feedback. Plus, hearing feedback on their own work does wonders for their self-esteem!”
For older students, sharing their work with their peers can also be an opportunity to improve their public speaking and presentation skills, for example by speaking without reading from the slides.
The cumulative benefits of project work
Working on personal projects online gives students the chance to develop a strong relationship with their teachers, whilst absorbing a wide range of skills. This individual learning technique is highly popular with pupils, who sometimes become so engrossed that they decide to extend their project across a second half term so as to dig deeper into their subject.
“We see individual learning bringing a range of benefits to every one of our students,” says Rachel, proudly. “No matter what everyone else is doing, in project time they can focus on something over which they have real power and choice. This freedom to follow their hearts boosts their learning and we see benefits right across the board.”
