How can Blackboard Learning System promote learner autonomy?

A qualitative study with Turkish learners

Cem BALÇIKANLI

University of Florida

Center for European Studies

E-mail: balcikanli@ufl.edu

12th Annual NCOLCTL Conference, 2009

Madison, USA

Overview

* It is a fact! Internet!

* Learner autonomy

* Ongoing research

* Conclusions

Social Network Participation Rates among University of Florida Students

Student has only a Facebook account 281 % 54.35

Student has only a MySpace account 10 % 1.93

Student has both a Facebook and MySpace account 210 % 40.62

Student has neither a Facebook or Myspace account 18 % 3.09

Martin, K. And Schemeisser, H. (2008). Emerging Trends in Youth Voting Behavior. Social Networking Websites and The 2008 General Election

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A 2006 survey of academic community members found that 90 % of the

undergraduates participated in a social network community, primarily Facebook

and MySpace.

Stutzman, F. (2006). An evaluation of identity-sharing behavior in social network communities. Paper presented at the iDMAa and IMS Code Conference, Oxford, Ohio.

“Online learning offers a rich linguistic and non-linguistic input, by presenting

new language through a variety of media and by offering branching

options.”

Benson, P. (2001). Teaching and Researching Autonomy in Language Learning. London: Longman.

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“the ability to take charge of one's own learning”

Holec, H. 1981. Autonomy and Foreign Language Learning. Oxford:

Pergamon.

Learner Autonomy

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a shift in from exclusive focus on how to improve language

teaching to an inclusive concern for how individual learners go through their

learning.

Gremmo, M.J. and Riley, P. (1995). Autonomy, self-direction and self access in Language Teaching and Learning: The History of an Idea. System, 23 (2), 151-164.

Why autonomy?

new technologies- provide the practical means whereby learners can take a

more active part in decisions involved in learning.

Raya, M. J. and Fernandez, J. M. P. (2002). Learner Autonomy and New Technologies. Education Media International. 39 (1). 61-68.

Impetus for the study

Center for European Studies, in the University of Florida Six American Students

Learning Turkish

Blackboard Learning Management System

Interviews

Ongoing research

Is it easy to use? Is it interesting?  Why?  Is it good for Turkish practice?  How?What special features does it have?__ glossary__ easy vocabulary__ useful language__ stories about (Turkish/___)__ video__ lots of pictures__ links to related stories__ quizzesHow does it contribute to your independent skills? How does it help develop your awareness of Turkish language?

Extracts from students… it keeps me alert in Turkish.

… since they are available there, whenever I need some clarifications, I can go look at them.

…it helps me keep track of my own progress.

…thanks to this, I feel I have developed more awareness for my learning.

… it is very good for turkish practice.

… blackboard is a good online learning tool because I can access it when I need it.

… it allows the teacher to post materials that I can access and save to my computer.

… it allows the instructor to put up documents and programs that everybody might not need.

… the potential use for language learning is great as it helps foster learner autonomy.

Extracts from students II… blackboard is important for language classess.

… you can only learn so much in class, so tools outside of class are important to keep up and to review the learning.

…when the teacher uses Blackboard and puts up places where the students can go, it helps the students improve and learn the language more.

… blackboard is a great site for Turkish class

… any assignment or quiz we do in class, or even a specific topic we just touched on in class, can be put on blackboard.

…it is a great source to communicate from teacher to all of the students.

… if you put up the answers after the quizzes are taken, that is helpful too, because then the students will what they did wrong and need to fix.

Learner awareness

Learner reflection

Learner independence

Learner responsibillity

Comments on Students’ Extracts

Learner interaction

Conclusion

1- Active learning

2- New technologies

3- Assumption of responsibility for carrying out their own plans

4- Independence skills

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