Promoting Learner Independence

Introduction

"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for a day

Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime"

This famous quote sets the context for the lesson we'll be looking at next week.  The title is Promoting Learner Independence.  What do you think it means? How can you enable this in the ESOL classroom? This webquest will prepare you for the lesson by creating an opportunity for you to start thinking about it before the lesson.

Task

 

 

Your task is to work through the instructions finding the information through the weblinks.  Remember to take notes so that you can refer to them in the lesson next week.

Process

Task 1a

Go to http://www.slideshare.net/jonathanlivingstone/learner-autonomy-in-a-nut…

What is Kupfer's definition of the autonomous being?

Task 1b

Go to http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jSmdsbjQnS0/S_3nSLjwlLI/AAAAAAAAAJg/MVRhKimt7…

What is Holec's definition? How does it compare to the one above? What are the similarities and differences?

Task 2

Goto http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jSmdsbjQnS0/S_3nSLjwlLI/AAAAAAAAAJg/MVRhKimt7…

and look at this diagram.  Summarise the key points in a short paragraph.

Task 3

Go to http://iteslj.org/Techniques/McCarthy-Autonomy.html

Task 4

Go to http://shct.hct.ac.ae/events/openlectureseries3/documents/Autonomyandth…

Summarise how learner autonomy can be promoted through the use of technology

Task 5

Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCUJlqgm9jg

and write down 5 - 10 interesting facts.  You don't need to watch the whole clip.

Summarise the section on Learner Training

Evaluation

There is no formal mark, grade or evaluation for this activity.  The main aim is to encourage you to think through some key themes before you come to the lesson, so that you can contribute actively to the discussions we'll have with all the learning you'll have done before you get there!

Conclusion

Learner autonomy is all about the individual taking responsibility for and ownership of their own learning.  It is about student engagement with the process of learning.  The most important principle is that students can create meaning for themselves which is long-lasting and personalised.