College Habits Part Two: The Hidden Trap of Dependent Learning

In our last post, we explored the good habit of structured learning time, the rhythm students bring from K-12 into college that can be repurposed for academic success. But let’s talk now about a not-so-helpful habit: dependent learning. This is the habit of relying on teachers to do the heavy lifting when it comes to understanding new material, a style of learning that often gets carried into college and becomes a major stumbling block.

For most students, school from kindergarten through 12th grade involved a predictable cycle: come to class, sit through a lecture or group activity, maybe do some homework, and then repeat. Rarely did you need to prepare in depth before class. The assumption was that your teacher would guide the learning and that understanding would follow naturally from showing up and paying attention.

One of the hardest shifts in college is the expectation that lectures are not the learning; they are supplements to the learning. College professors expect students to read, review, and reflect before class, then use lecture time to reinforce and deepen understanding. In other words, you’re expected to walk into class already partially informed, not entirely blank.

I often tell students that learning in college is like shopping at IKEA. You don’t walk out with a ready-made piece of furniture. You get the raw materials, a manual, and a single Allen wrench. Putting it together? That’s on you. In this metaphor, your professor may walk you through some steps, like a live YouTube DIY tutorial, but you still have to do the building yourself. And here’s the kicker: you can’t pause a live lecture. If the material feels like it’s coming at you too fast, that may actually be a signal that you didn’t do enough preparation beforehand.

Dependent learning creates a false sense of security. Many students think that just attending class, taking notes, and rereading them later will be enough to succeed. But research shows that passive learning methods, like simply listening to lectures or rereading, are among the least effective strategies for long-term retention (Brown, Roediger, & McDaniel, 2014). In contrast, active learning techniques, such as self-testing, summarizing, and concept mapping, especially before class, significantly improve comprehension and recall (Dunlosky et al., 2013). So if you’re sitting in class feeling overwhelmed, it might not be that the professor is going too fast. It might be that your learning approach is still stuck in K-12 mode.

Breaking the habit of dependent learning doesn’t mean going it alone. It means becoming more strategic about when and how you learn. Instead of waiting to be taught, successful college students approach class with questions already in mind. They preview textbook chapters, skim assigned readings, or watch concept videos before lecture. That way, when they walk into class, they’re not hearing the content for the first time; they’re refining and building on what they already started learning.

Professors aren’t there to teach every detail. They’re there to guide, challenge, and clarify. You are the lead learner. Once students embrace that shift, they stop seeing class as the only place where learning happens and start taking control of their education.

The habit of passive, dependent learning served a purpose in K-12. But in college, it can quickly become a crutch that holds you back from engaging meaningfully with your coursework. College is designed to help you become an independent thinker, a problem solver, and a self-directed learner. That transition can be tough, but it’s also empowering.

So the next time you find yourself lost in a lecture, don’t blame the pace. Ask yourself: Did I come to class prepared to learn? Because in college, what happens before class often matters just as much, if not more, than what happens during it.

If you’re working on becoming a more active, independent learner, we offer individual coaching sessions and group workshops on study strategies, pre-lecture preparation, and self-directed learning models. Contact us to book a session and take your academic habits to the next level.