14 that although students’ independence is a personal goal, but independent learning
cannot be achieved in isolation. Independent learning is an interactive process among students and their environment and society.
Meyer, et al 2008 states two main factors that may influence the development of independent learning. The numbers of external and internal
factors play a role in succeeding independent learning. External factors can be in form of the relationship between teacher and the pupils and the opportunities
given by the teacher for students to be autonomous. While internal factors are the skills that individual pupils have to acquire. These include cognitive skills,
metacognitive skills, and affective skills.
b. Goals
Regina 1988 proposes some goals in implanting independence learning to learners. The first is to develop lifelong and autonomous learners. The second is
to develop students who value learning as an empowering activity. The third is to develop students who want to learn independently. The fourth is to develop
individuals with self-determination, self-direction, and self-respect. The last is to develop students who can effectively participate in society and meet the challenge
of rapid social change.
c. Strengths and Benefits of Independent Learning
Purwadi 1980 proposes several strengths of implementing independent learning habit in teaching learning process. Firstly, independent learning allows
students to explore the topic being discussed deeply and creatively adjusted to their need and interest. Secondly, independent learning can be run in every
15 educational level and in all subjects. Thirdly, independent learning can help
raising learners’ motivation in learning by taking them on planning learning activities. Fourthly, independent learning may teach learners to get involved in the
society since learning activities can be done outside classroom. Fifth, independent learning stresses on fostering learners’ responsibility and discipline. This may
encourage them to actively participate in every circumstance. Besides those stated by Purwadi, several benefits are stated by Meyer,
Haywood, Sachdev, and Faraday 2008. Firstly, independent learning improves academic performance. This might be caused by unrestricted learning
environment in independent learning set by the teachers. Students will be more motivated, confident, enjoy their study. It will come to a better material
comprehension and end at better achievement. Secondly, by giving the learners chance to work based on their own efforts, independent learning can increase
greater pupil awareness of their limitations and their ability to manage them. In other words, students are able to reflect to themselves and others and turn their
awareness into stronger reinforcement. Thirdly, independent learning enables teacher to provide differentiated tasks for pupils. Fourth, learners learn how to
socialize with others by designing good activities which require learners to interact with people.
d. Assessing and Evaluating Independent Learning
