If we go to analyze the existing level of most ordinary institutes we would find that they don’t pay that much attention to the learner autonomy theory. By the way, what is the learner autonomy first of all !? As defined by experts, it is “the ability to take charge of one’s own learning”, meaning to take a whole responsibility for all the decisions concerning all aspects of this learning. In other simple words; students are supposed to be sole responsible for their learning.
This ability is not inborn but must be acquired by the formal learning. But we’ve got questions remain unanswered; how can students acquire this ability? Do institutions, represented by their staff and teachers, help them learn that? Well, I think most of the time neither the staff nor the teachers promote learner autonomy..! Not because they don’t know what it really is but because they have set of regulations and fixed curriculum that they don’t want to go beyond.
Even if students are mature and know the importance of learner autonomy but still they need guidance, they need their faces to be directed to the right direction. And on the top of all that they need encouragement and motivational words, these words are like the oxygen. They might not last long, but they must leave eternal impact, and at the same time they cost us nothing.
As for “one computer” option, there is no question about the importance of using computer when teaching especially in these days. I wish every student have a computer in the classroom or his/her own laptop. Having a PC in the classroom along with internet connection can make the learning process a real fun.. You could run the entire class using the computer, as in literature classes; where you could play movie of the scene or the novel.. etc. Why taking all that time reading the literary work when you have it already acted..!?
I remember when I was in the university we had lots of literary works like Hamlet, Macbeth, Doctor Faustus..etc. We would spend the entire semester jumping from one scene to the other wasting most of our time in looking up words that aren’t used any more, and at the end of the day we could not comprehend the plot of the play or the novel. We could have saved a lot of time if we watched the acted movie. The same goes for other aspects of the language.
Peace and Love
Dear Faisal;
ReplyDeleteI love your picture, the best way to summarize this week content. Regarding you comments oabout the learner autonomy, I think we all play a role and whether learners are born with this capacity or not, or the institution/ administrators are not flexible enough with curriculum and policies, teachers can always make a difference.
Ana
Dear Faisal
ReplyDeleteVery nice reflections. I agree with you on the point that building life-long skills should be institutionalized. Learners' autonomy is one of these skills and every teacher should be made aware of it and should be made a priority.
On another front, having a computer with an internet will make a lot of difference. But even with a computer only one can make things better as we came to know from this week's readings. I have always held this idea that what we need especially in countries like Yemen is to try to make the best out the given situation.
With best regards.
abed
Dear Faisal,
ReplyDeleteThe picture is short summary of what we did this week I guess. Love the picture. As you have mentioned, learner autonomy is not an inborn skill but teachers have to develop through various ways and it will take time to establish.
So it is always better to start from the very beginning.
regards
shihanath
Hello Faisal
ReplyDeleteI love your statement, "encouragement and motivational words...are like the oxygen". Well made point with a poignant metaphor.
I also loved the picture and your webpage makeover. Very impressive.
Robert