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There is a tendency to believe that independent learning means a complete lack of structure and guidance. While this is one extreme approach, in reality some structure is important for autonomous or independent learning to function effectively. If there are too many options (or all options are available at once), it is easy to spread yourself too thin, try to master too many new skills or techniques at once, and not retain information as effectively. Structured guidance, especially in the beginning phases of learning something new, helps you to know where to concentrate your efforts.
Having a structured plan or approach can also help you to understand what needs to be done and in what order. When you know what is expected of you and when, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed or uncertain about what you should be doing. Instead of sitting and wondering what you should do, you can jump right in and take action. Knowing what the bigger picture is and how the steps you are taking fit into this process is an important part of independent learning and something that can be aided through the right type of guidance.
Receiving feedback on your progress is another important aspect of independent learning that can be aided through structured guidance. Letting someone more experienced point out things that you do not see or realize about your own work can help you to learn faster and more efficiently. Instead of repeating the same mistakes over and over again, you can learn how to correct them and move forward. This type of interaction can actually help you to become more self-aware and think more critically about your own work.
Over time, as you become more comfortable with what you are doing, you will need less and less guidance. You will begin to foresee problems, develop solutions, and then evaluate the effectiveness of your work. Eventually, the structured guidance will become second nature and you will no longer need someone else to provide it for you. Instead, you will use it as a type of gauge to judge your own efforts against.
In the end, the point of structured guidance is to provide you with the tools you need to be able to work independently. Providing both guidance and the freedom to explore, structured guidance offers the perfect opportunity for you to develop your independent or autonomous learning skills. Instead of fostering dependence, it will actually help you to become more self-sufficient and better equipped to tackle new challenges.