how to set up an independent study course

^{How to Set up an Independent Study}

1. Decide What You Want to Study. The first step to setting up an independent study is to decide what subject you want your course to focus on.
2. Learn Your School's Policy for Independent Studies. After you have decided what you want to study, talk to your guidance counselor to find out what your school's policy is ...
3. Develop Your Course Plan. The next step is to design the course. ...
4. Get Your Class Approved. After you have created or found a solid course plan, you will submit it to your school for approval.
5. Start Learning! After your independent study has been approved, it will be added to your transcript either immediately or at the start of the next semester.

How do I build an independent study course?

Building an Independent Study Course requires three steps to be completed: 1. Develop a goal statement for what the student hopes to accomplish and the purpose of the independent study. 2. Select and/or develop learning objectives related to the goal statement.

Can I take an independent study?

You may be able to take an independent study! Independent studies can be a great way to take a class your school doesn't offer but you'd still like to take, whether to strengthen your college applications, prepare for future jobs, or just out of personal interest.

What are the requirements for independent study programs at college?

Some schools also require approval from a department program director. Requirements for these programs are often strict, as schools need to be sure that the student is pursuing a legitimate academic endeavor. Be sure to check your school's rules and procedures concerning independent study before you begin devising your own.

Where can I find free independent study courses?

Many colleges and companies offer independent study courses. Search online to find courses that cover your specific topic. Brigham Young University is one of the most popular schools to order course materials from, and their website includes a course catalog so you can see a complete list of the classes they offer.

Can you start independent study?

Independent study is open to any student in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade.

How do you facilitate an independent study?

HOW TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO BECOME INDEPENDENT LEARNERSProvide students with time to self-monitor. ... Use questions to help steer students toward independent learning. ... Be a model for your students. ... Develop communication that focuses on learning. ... Provide feedback on classwork and homework. ... Encourage collaboration.More items...•

Can you create your own college course?

Each school will have its own procedures for formally establishing a course before making it available to students and including it in the course catalog. Write an effective course description that provides a basic overview of the course material that will be covered in one semester.

How many hours a week is an independent study?

A balancing act: the different kinds of study taught study: 30 hours (roughly 2–3 hours a week) self-managed directed study: 70 hours, including around 40 hours working on assessment tasks (roughly 4–5 hours a week) self-managed independent study: 50 hours (roughly 3–4 hours a week)

What are the requirements for independent study?

Participating in Independent Study Participation in independent study must always be the choice of the pupil, parent, guardian, or caregiver. LEAs shall not require or otherwise obligate the pupil's participation in an independent study program.

How do independent study courses work?

Independent study allows you to learn about a subject that's unavailable in your school's established curriculum or about a topic you would like to explore in greater depth. You create your course, determine what you study, and then work one-on-one with a faculty member to earn academic credit.

How do I start a new university course?

10 steps to build your first academic courseGather basic information. ... Speak to colleagues. ... Assess your own strengths and weaknesses as an instructor. ... Determine course objectives and expected learning outcomes. ... Determine methods of assessment. ... Draft a thorough course description. ... Draft course policies and expectations.More items...•

How much does it cost to create a class in college?

At public 4-year institutions, in-state students pay an average of $313 per credit hour. Out-of-state students pay $1,005 per credit hour. Private 4-year universities charge $785 per credit hour. At public, 2-year institutions or community colleges, in-state students pay $122 per credit hour.

How do you structure a course?

3:158:04How to outline and structure an online course (Make an AMAZING course)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFree course outline template if you'd like to follow along the link is below in the description.MoreFree course outline template if you'd like to follow along the link is below in the description. Write down the who. And the what at the top of your outline. Before we move on to our next step.

How much time should you allow for independent study?

This equates to around 4-5 hours per day. As you progress, you should expect to study full time, which is a minimum of 40 hours per week, meaning around 6 hours per day. What is this? There are many factors which determine the amount of time contributing towards independent study.

What are independent studies examples?

Usually, students look to independent study when they have an interest in a special topic that's not offered at most high schools. Some examples of special topics would be courses like Asian-American history, British Literature, or Chinese language.

How do I write an independent research proposal?

The proposal consists of a few things:A statement describing the planned independent study. Your statement should be clear and concise. ... A bibliography. Your statement should be paired with a bibliography. ... A proposed title. ... A brief statement describing how this independent study is intended to fit into your degree program.

How long does it take to get an independent study?

The first step to setting up an independent study is to find out if it’s even a possibility at your school. Start looking into this early, as it can take a month or more to go through the full application process, particularly if you are planning to design your own course.

What is independent study?

What is an independent study? An independent study is a sequence of study that you undertake on your own, rather than a class that you take in a traditional high school setting. Some independent studies can be arranged during the school day but often they take place outside of normal school hours.

How to choose an independent study advisor?

You should ideally choose an adviser who teaches that subject area and with whom you have an existing relationship. An adviser who is already familiar with your work ethic and scholastic aptitude will be more likely to take on the project with you, and you are more likely to be comfortable seeking feedback from someone whose guidance you already trust.

What to do if your school does not have an application process?

If your school does not have an application process already in place, meet with your academic adviser or guidance counselor to discuss what options might be available. Go into this meeting with a solid idea of what you’d like to do ...

What are some ways to study outside of school?

Some students take pre-designed independent study courses. These include online college course work, online homeschool programs, or other classes that you can pursue outside of school. These are a good option if you are too busy to take on much planning and can find one in your subject area.

What are the disadvantages of pre-designed classes?

The disadvantage is that these pre-designed classes will likely be less specific to your unique interests and you may find the pacing to be too fast or too slow, depending on how quickly you learn . These classes also come at a price.

Why is independent study important?

An independent study can be a great way of pursuing learning on your own terms. It displays a passion for specific subject areas, it shows an ability to plan ahead, and it shows your dedication to independent pursuits of learning.

What is independent study?

Independent study is a viable alternative for students who wish to study a topic that is not covered by the current course listings. Motivated students with an interest in a specific subject can consult professors and design their own programs.

Why is independent study important?

Independent study offers an outlet for gifted students to both pursue their own interests and remain engaged academically. Whereas an easy curriculum may prove boring, a more challenging and personalized program can help keep a gifted candidate focused on their studies.

What does it mean to enroll in a course?

Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams.

Why do people study independently?

One of the most common reasons for independent study is a lack of available time, especially for college or nontraditional students. If you are employed, a parent, or simply extremely busy, taking courses outside the classroom is a convenient and effective way to complete coursework at your own pace and location.

How many colleges does Study.com have?

If you're interested in pursuing an independent study program, Study.com has an extensive library of college-level courses., and over 200 of these courses offer transferable credits to more than 2,000 colleges and universities. These self-paced courses cover a range of topics, including psychology, English, and biology.

What is the ease of online learning?

The ease of online learning means that students have complete control over the pace of their learning and may complete work as fast or as leisurely as they choose, depending on a school's available programs. This format can also be much more interactive, as students can easily connect with professors, teaching assistants, and other students online.

What is an online course?

Online Courses. Online courses are extremely similar to paper-based courses, with the obvious exception being the means of delivery. Using an online portal provided by the school, students have access to all pertinent class materials, including readings, pre-recorded lectures, and discussion forums.

What Is an Independent Study?

An independent study is a class taken by a student that has much less supervision and direction than a typical class: you are learning independently. Students often take independent studies to learn about a specific subject not taught in their high school. Generally, you choose what you want your independent study to focus on and request for it to be approved by your school. You often have to have a detailed plan of what you will learn and the work you will do.

How to find out what your school policy is for independent studies?

After you have decided what you want to study, talk to your guidance counselor to find out what your school's policy is for independent studies. Questions to ask include if your school allows them, who advises them, and what materials are required in order to receive approval.

Why is independent study more difficult than traditional study?

Taking an independent study can be more difficult than a traditional course because you have to keep yourself on track. While you will have an adviser to supervise the course, you will be the one in charge of making sure you are completing enough work; there will be no teacher to give you assignments every day.

What is the most important part of college application?

One of the single most important parts of your college application is what classes you choose to take in high school (in conjunction with how well you do in those classes). Our team of PrepScholar admissions experts have compiled their knowledge into this single guide to planning out your high school course schedule. We'll advise you on how to balance your schedule between regular and honors/AP/IB courses, how to choose your extracurriculars, and what classes you can't afford not to take.

Why do people study independent?

You may want to study a particular subject, such as a less-common foreign language, particular branch of science, or a specific time period in history, but it isn't taught at your school. You may be interested in studying this subject for your own personal enjoyment or to help prepare you for college classes or future jobs.

What happens if you can't fit a class into your schedule?

In some circumstances, your school may offer a class you are interested in but can't take during the time it's offered. If your schedule prevents you from taking a certain class, your school may allow you to take an independent study and learn the subject on your own while having ...

Why is independent study important?

Independent studies can be a great way to take a class your school doesn't offer but you'd still like to take, whether to strengthen your college applications, prepare for future jobs, or just out of personal interest. Read on to learn about independent studies, what their benefits are, and how you can take one yourself.

What is independent study?

An independent study course is defined as an area of study or research necessitating a high level of self-directed learning. This learning requires students to read, conduct research, complete written examinations, reports, projects, research papers, portfolios, or similar assignments that are designed to measure competency in the stated educational objectives. Courses currently offered through formal instruction, or a new topic within a specialized field not listed in the Course Catalog, can both be elected for independent study by a special arrangement with the instructor and approval by the department chair. It is the departmental decision that if the content or the diculty level is appropriate for an independent study.

How many hours of independent study should be allowed?

When an independent study is designed and proposed, the rationale for the number of credits awarded by the course should meet the following criteria: one semester credit hour for each 40 clock hours of documented independent study activities. The number of allowable independent study credits for any student should be limited to less than or equal to 10% of the total credits required by the entire program.

What is a schedule for a professor?

The schedule is a weekly breakdown of tasks and topics. It is ultimately up to the discretion of the professor if it should be modified. Also, the professor may opt to have presentations organized per article rather than per topic for clarity.

Do you need to fill out an activity log in Moodle?

Scan and upload this form to Moodle as an assignment submission. The activity log must be filled out at least on a bi-weekly basis. All activity logs must be available on Moodle prior to the end of the semester as a part of the independent study assessment. Activities that constitute time spent on an independent study are outlined in the Independent Study Guidelines packet.

What is independent study?

Independent study is an alternative to classroom instruction consistent with a school district’s course of study and is not an alternative curriculum. Independent study is voluntary, many school districts offer this type of education, but some do not. The California Department of Education works to improve independent study programs in school ...

Is independent study an alternative curriculum?

This alternative instructional strategy offers the flexibility to meet individual student needs, interests, and styles of learning. Independent study, however, is not an alternative curriculum and independent study students are expected to meet the same educational objectives as all other students. By law, independent study education is ...

Do LEAs require independent study?

Participation in independent study must always be the choice of the pupil, parent, guardian, or caregiver. LEAs shall not require or otherwise obligate the pupil’s participation in an independent study program. To learn more about independent study options, contact your local school district or county office of education.