32+ SAMPLE Learning Strategy Plan

What Is a Learning Strategy Plan?

A learning strategy plan is a comprehensive plan that outlines different strategies and approaches to learning with the aim of optimizing education and understanding . It is usually customized to suit the learning needs of a particular individual, group or class.  

According to an online article published by Bay Atlantic University, there are four main types of online learning. These categories are tech-enhanced courses, minimal face-to-face courses, fully online courses and hybrid or blended courses. Because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a whopping 97% of college students have switched to an online medium of instruction. In addition, there was a sizable dip of 1.8% in the enrollment rate of international students in the United States.    

Tips for Maximizing Learning

In the last two years, the way people learn has changed dramatically. Due to the global pandemic, traditional education was halted and teachers and students around the world migrated online. Educational institutions around the world had to quickly adapt to distance learning. For a vast majority, remote learning has not come without its challenges. Regardless, individuals should ideally feel some responsibility in the continuation of their education and learning. The tips below are some simple ways you can maximize your learning and take charge of it.    

Try decluttering. It can sometimes be difficult to focus when our surroundings are not conducive to learning. People often say that one’s immediate external environment is a reflection of one’s internal world. For example, if a student’s room is disorganized with everything in disarray, it is not completely out of the realm of possibility that perhaps the student is dealing with some inner turmoil or their mind is preoccupied which makes it difficult for him to focus. Without the ability to focus, it is that much harder to learn. A quick remedy for this is by starting with your immediate exterior environment. Try clearing out the clutter in your room and organizing all your belongings. This includes not just your big chunky items, but even your paperwork and computer files. If you want to regain some control of your surroundings, perhaps now is the perfect time to clean up your desktop. Have a space to study. In order to declutter your space, you need to have a dedicated space for learning to begin with. This does not have to be any place special. Find an appropriate room or corner in your home that you can study in. Whether it is a bedroom or an office or study room, any place can be turned into a learning spot. You just have to ensure that there is adequate and conducive lighting and that you have an ergonomically suitable chair and table. These factors must be taken into consideration especially today where more people are shifting to remote learning and work from home. Setting up the right space can create an environment conducive to learning and as a result, may improve your chances of maximizing your learning and minimize potential distractions. Use a variety of techniques. One way to keep yourself engaged in what you are learning is by embracing variety. The mind craves novel things and experiences; so if something becomes too routine and predictable, many people can often lose interest quickly. This cannot be more true in the classroom or in learning sessions. It is quite common for students in class to doze off or not even attend class at all because they find the lecture or teacher unengaging. Their minds end up wandering even if the instructor is in front of them. In order to counter this, it can be helpful to mix it up. Using a variety of learning strategies and not merely sticking to one may be effective. For instance, you can supplement online lectures with solo practice modules or applications. Have a dedicated learning time. Just like having an assigned space for all your learning to take place at home, it is crucial to also set aside the time to learn. This means your dedicated study time should ideally be free from all distraction and interruption. It pays to have some form of structure or routine when it comes to your formal education. This allows you to condition your mind to truly focus and study without any obstruction to your attention. In the case of distance learning, you have more control and agency to set aside a dedicated time for learning at home. All you have to do is figure out what works best for you.

Sample Learning Strategies  

There are dozens of learning strategies. The key is finding one that works for you or is suited to your needs. Whether it is within the confines or a traditional classroom or in the context of e-learning, some strategies work better for one student while other strategies are better suited to another. It is important to acknowledge the relativity and complexity when it comes to learning strategies. The following examples below describe some of the more universal learning strategies.     

Small Group Discussion. Aside from traditional lectures and assignments, small group discussions are a common learning strategy in most educational environments especially in higher education. Sometimes, having focused group discussions can yield more profound realizations than a regular lecture can. A smaller, intimate group makes it easier for peers to exchange ideas and bounce off of each other. Breaking out in smaller groups can have a more targeted or focused result. This can be a very effective learning strategy especially if the subject matter is more open to interpretation like the humanities or social sciences. Question & Answer. Another popular learning strategy is an open forum or a Q&A. Of course, the format of a Q&A would vary and depend on the situation. A lot of seminars and lectures reserve an open forum at the end of a talk. In most of these situations, the resource speaker is typically made to answer any additional questions the audience may have regarding the subject matter that was just previously discussed. This active banter or exchange of information can be a useful learning strategy because it is interactive in nature. It is not just the lecturer or speaker dominating the situation, the audience or the learner is given the opportunity to contribute as well. Student-led Learning. Another popular learning strategy is student-led initiative. This essentially means that instead of just the teacher or instructor taking the lead in every learning session, the student or learner is tasked to initiate the education process. This may come in the form of reporting or conducting presentations. A lot of teachers who try to make their classrooms more interactive and participative use student-led learning initiatives in order to get their students to be more involved. Whether it is collaborative group presentations or individual problem-solving assignments, the aim of student-led learning is to foster a sense of responsibility and encourage learners to take an active part in their education. e-Learning. In the age of the pandemic, distance learning has now become the new norm. Since the suspension of face-to-face classes, the education of millions of children around the world has been disrupted. Fortunately, technological advances and the interconnectedness of the modern world have allowed a new alternative arrangement to take flight. Remote learning or even blended learning as some perceive it, replaced the traditional face-to-face learning. And in order to get the most out of this new way of instruction, make sure you set a suitable environment that is conducive to learning.

How to Create a Learning Strategy Plan

A learning strategy plan will obviously differ in content depending on the needs of the learner. However, there are a few basic components of a strategy plan that you can readily adopt in your learning strategy plan. If you are looking for more convenience, you can also download a sample template from the selection above and simply customize it according to your preferences. Other than that, follow the easy step-by-step guide below to get started on your lesson strategy plan.  

Step 1: Determine Your Objectives

The first step in any strategy plan is setting the goal. What direction do you want to take with your learning strategy plan? What do you plan to achieve with the plan? It is important to set the objectives first of why you intend to create a learning strategy plan at all. Identify the purpose or your plan but keep in mind that your goals must be realistic in addition to being measurable. You may also want to specify your objectives. Having a goal that is too broad or too vague may make it more difficult to pinpoint or narrow down concrete strategies.    

Step 2: Identify Your Resources

Once you have covered your objectives, make a reasonable assessment of the material and resources you currently have that are directly related to your learning. These may be text books, academic journals, lecture notes, audio-visual aids, and online material or references. However, resources are not merely material things. Important sources of knowledge and information may include mentors, advisers or even peer groups. Resources are everything and anything that can potentially add value and support your learning journey. When you have a good grasp and posess a broad awareness of these resources, you can make better decisions on how to maximize your learning with the resources you have.    

Step 3: Outline Your Action Plans and Timeline

A learning strategy plan should be anything but passive. As soon as you have identified both your goals and resources, proceed to plotting your action plan with the objective of achieving your learning goals. How are you planning to execute the objectives you stated earlier in your strategy plan? What are the best strategies that will enable you to implement your learning goals? It helps to have concrete action items that are measurable, attainable and specific. Further, you may also want to incorporate a timeline or set certain deadlines pertaining to each action item.   

Step 4: Employ a Progress Monitoring Tool 

Lastly, learning is always an evolving and continuous process. It does not just end when the learning objectives are met. For your learning strategy plan to truly make a lasting impact in the student life, you need to establish means and ways to track their progress. Along with a timeline, a unit of measurement or rubric to monitor their performance might be helpful as well. Using various success indicators can help you gauge if the strategies and action plans in place are positive results or not.   

FAQs

What are the 7 learning strategies?

According to Inspire Education, the seven learning strategies are: visual, auditory, verbal, physical, logical, social and solitary.

How do you create a learning strategy plan?

To create a learning strategy plan, you first need to establish your learning goals. Once you have covered the objectives, assess your available educational resources and plot out the action items that will address your learning goals. You may also include a timeline and progress tracker in your plans as well.

What are some learning strategy examples?

Learning strategies can include focused group discussions, one-on-one coaching, mentoring, student led learning, etc.

A learning strategy plan is needs-based and creating one can be quite technical. Fortunately, there are existing templates that are both editable and time-saving. Browse the extensive collection of sample templates above and customize your own plan today!