Introduction
Independent Study: What to Expect
Independent study is quite different from classroom study. In traditional classrooms, daily homework, pop quizzes, special reports, and projects help you keep pace with the rest of the class. But these things aren’t usually part of independent study. Here, you’re pretty much on your own.
In the classroom, a one-semester psychology course would be completed in fifteen to eighteen weeks. In independent study, your completion date will be up to you because you’ll pursue the course at your own rate. Please be realistic, though. Don’t expect to finish the course in a couple of weeks. You can’t, not successfully. Some students spend a year completing it; others spend about the length of a traditional semester, which means they finish a lesson every seven to ten days.
What will be your key to success? Self-discipline. Consider your deadline for completing the course, establish a workable study schedule, and then stick to it. Most important, don’t let procrastination creep into your study habits. Procrastination has caused more than one student to change graduation plans. Don’t be another.
One more important piece of advice: Much factual information will be presented in the course. Rather than thinking you must master every fact, it’s more important that you concentrate on developing your critical thinking skills. Thinking critically, or reasoning clearly and objectively, will be essential in the course; more important, it’s essential in life itself.
