Student’s Autonomy in Mathematics Studying

I can say that education is a process of practice and study to improve skill and ability. So, in education, student’s autonomy is very important to be developed. With autonomy, students will be able to measure the development of their skill and will always be motivated to be better.
There are some words to call autonomous studying. They are 1) independent learning, 2) self-directed learning, and 3) autonomous learning (Candy, Philip C., “Independent Learning: Some Ideas from Literature”).
"Independent Learning is that learning in which the learner, in conjunction with relevant others, can make the decisions necessary to meet the learner's own learning needs." (Kesten, 1987, p. 3)
I think, autonomous student will have big and good confidence in studying. They will not depend on the other. They will measure their skill with hard effort that have be done. If they find some difficulties, without hesitation they will ask to the other people that is cleverer by discussing about it. They also will try to look for some references that are more complete. For them, a wrong is an experience and lesson of life that is meaningful. Because with the wrong they will try to seek the best solution to solve the problem and try to be not to repeat the wrong again. So, they will know a right from a wrong.
Especially, in mathematics learning, students have to make and do many exercises. So, they will understand the concept of mathematics easily. Because, study mathematics needs understanding of concept not only recitation. With making and doing some exercises autonomously, students will be usual in solving of mathematics problems. Therefore, Autonomy in mathematics studying is also important.
I have an experience about autonomy in studying. When I was in elementary school and junior high school I have not had a good autonomy. I still depended on may friends in studying and examination. But, I though, it also happened because of environment factor. My study’s environment made me to be not autonomous student. I was not sure in studying . so, my result of study was not so satisfactory.
My study’s autonomy began appear when I was in senior high school. It was when I followed the first examination. I was not sure in studying so I still depended on my friends to finish my work. And the result was also not satisfactory. Then I though, “I should not be like that. I have to show my skill without depend on the other.” So, I began to study hard. And Alhamdulillah, I could repair my value be better. My autonomy in studying was also motivated by my friends and my teachers. Competitions with the others, enthusiasm, spirit, and attention from my teachers could make me be also enthusiasm and interested me to be more diligent in studying.
So, teachers also have to create condition of learning that are conducive, interested, happy, and be able to motivate the student to be enthusiasm and happy to learn mathematics independently. There are some ways to motivate student to study mathematics autonomously, they are :
• Invite student to solve mathematics problems together,
• Give some assignments that can improve student’s creativities in solving mathematics problems,
• Give students some chances to discuss the lesson with their friends so they will be interested in mathematics learning.
From my experience, I can say that the advantages of student’s autonomy in studying are :
• Student will have big spirit and enthusiasm in studying,
• Student will have good confidence in studying,
• Student can create new innovation in studying,
• Student will want to know about unknown something,
• Student will be satisfactory with his /her hard effort,
• Student can improve his/her skill and ability, not only the value.
Therefore, autonomy in studying have important role for student. Autonomy don’t mean that they have to study just by themselves, but they can study together with their friends, make discussion, and do cooperative learning. With autonomy, student can be motivated to study diligently and improve their skill. So, let’s we try to build autonomy for ourselves and around people.