Guidelines With Independent Study

The following guidelines are useful for subject areas that may not be pre-testable because the material is unfamiliar to students. In this case, teachers use a study guide with an independent study agreement.

1. Provide students with a study guide that contains a list of expected outcomes for a unit, which they may choose to achieve independently. Instead of working with the regular class, these students will research and present information about an alternative topic related to the general theme or unit.

2. Students work on the extended activity in school during the time the class is working with the regular content. Thus, the activity becomes their real work for the class period.

3. Students sign an agreement similar to the following illustration. 
   Independent Study Agreement 
   
   The following terms are agreed to by teacher and student: 
   
   

   The student may learn the key concepts or the information described on the study guide independently. The student must demonstrate mastery at appropriate checkpoints to continue this arrangement for the rest of the unit. The student must participate in selected group activities when one day’s notice is given by the teacher. The student agrees to complete an independent project by (date) to share with the class.

   
   Project description: ___________________ . 
   
   The student agrees to work on the selected project according to the following guidelines while the remainder of the class is involved with the teacher. (List guidelines.)
   
   Teacher’s signature
   Student’s signature
   ========================================================= 
   
   A similar agreement may be used with all independent study activities. The prototype may be used for ideas on what to include, or teachers may use their own ideas. Students rejoin the large group for special experiences in which all students should participate.

4. Students who do not work on their alternative activity or do not honor the working conditions of the agreement are required to rejoin the class for the duration of the unit.

5. Students present their project to the class at an appropriate time. Written work is not required. Students are expected to present a talk of 7-10 minutes, accompanied by at least one visual aid. Or, students may negotiate a suitable means of demonstrating to the class what has been learned.

6. Evaluation or grading alternatives are described in the section that follows on Guidelines for Evaluation of Alternative Work.