What Does Self-Directed Learning Look Like In IP Schools?

Self-directed learning is a buzzword amongst educators, especially with the ‘teach less, learn more’ movement in Singapore schools. But when it comes to self-directed learning, schools running the Integrated Programme arguably place more focus on it.

Due to the absence of O Levels, teachers in IP schools have more curriculum time to allow students to explore and learn, unrestricted to textbooks. So what do teachers and students actually do when they say ‘self-directed learning’? Gathering experiences from students from the Integrated Programme, we offer you a sneak peek of what self-directed learning looks like in IP schools!

• No textbooks

For most subjects in IP schools, you won’t find textbooks. Most of these IP schools curate their own curriculum and notes, and sometimes, there are simply no notes – students have to make their own.

Of course, it isn’t as unstructured as it sounds. There are still fixed learning outcomes and content that teachers have to cover. But sometimes it is just not so explicit. The self-directed element comes in when students need to consolidate and filter out information to know what is important and what will be tested in exams. You also need to be proactive in annotating your notes and picking out crucial tips and skills through the lectures and lessons.

• Beyond the classroom

Some IP school teachers get really creative with lesson ideas! For science lessons, teachers may demonstrate science concepts using experiments, or ask students to conduct their own. For English or Language Arts lessons, students may be asked to share their thoughts through debates, socratic seminars, or power point presentations.

One example of a math class that went beyond the classroom is one where students were challenged to find the height of a tree or school building without using any measuring tape (hint: trigonometry). The students really have to get creative to think of resourceful ways to solve the problem!

• Project work

Project work is pretty common in IP schools, and you may get at least one project per subject each year or semester. Students are usually given a few weeks to complete the project, and these may be quite open-ended projects with minimal guidance from the teacher.

Some project formats that have been done before include conducting experimental research on a science problem, writing an extended essay on a controversial topic, preparing and performing a skit, creating a board game using math formulae, and more. Not only do these projects allow students to engage deeper and independently with the topics they are learning, it also gives them experience working with a team and exercising their creativity.

• Self-initiated programmes

We’re going beyond curriculum learning into extra-curricular stuff now, and the self-directed nature of things doesn’t stop there. Students are also encouraged to start their own service-learning projects, which could be an event or regular programme to contribute to the community at large. In most cases, students come up with their own ideas from scratch, although they will have a teacher to supervise and advise them.

Thus, students will gain experience in planning events and managing a team, handling aspects from sourcing for sponsorships to creating publicity materials. For many students, the learning curve will be steep, but it is a valuable platform for developing soft skills and life skills like communication and problem-solving.

Support your learning with Future Academy 

As you may be able to tell, the IP self-directed curriculum is quite intensive as it puts a lot of responsibility on the student to figure things out by themselves. However, even the most motivated student may find it difficult to juggle all their commitments, especially when assignments and project work take up a lot of their time.

We see many IP students coming to us for classes like IP Math tuition – not because they are not good at studying, but because they just find it easier to learn with a more guided approach. In our classes like IP Chemistry tuition and more, we make learning faster and more productive for you with our personalised approach and comprehensive notes!

Our team of tutors also consists of experienced IP teachers and IP school alumni who are more than ready to share their experiences and best advice with you. With us, you can trust that you are in good hands!