Teaching Student Independence Through Study Groups

Despite the plentiful research regarding the teaching of content, motivation, and study skills, how to teach students to be independent learners remains a mystery. Using the Zone of Proximal Development Theory (ZPD), "cultural zones," and other socio-cultural theories, this study focuses on teaching students how to become independent, self-sufficient learners. The method used to explore this inquiry was out-of-class study groups, developed within the parameters of ZPD. The study groups were used to help students create a network of resources beyond the teacher, and construct a support system to facilitate the process of relying less on the teacher and more on the students' own capacity. The implementation involved the first 3-stages of ZPD: 1) being aided by a more capable person, 2) relying on oneself, and 3) internalizing the learning. Through the study groups, students found alternative means of support for their schoolwork in and out of the classroom. They also were able to transfigure their perceptions of learning from a purely academic phenomenon into an enjoyable social activity.