Week 7: Student autonomy and Padlet

Wall Vandalism is a crime! Why does it happen? Vandals exhibit their boredom, anger, defiance or alliance by expressing it on the wall to bring public attention. Isn’t it a freedom of speech, or  a doer’s ‘autonomy’? I strongly doubt that. However, there is a legitimate means to do ‘graffiti’ on ‘the wall’ and to foster learner autonomy concurrently. These are the topics of the sixth week’s discussion and task. Ha! This is fun and let’s read more.

Despite its popularity since the last two decades, Learner autonomy is actually not a new thing although it has existed in different names. An early pioneer in the development of educational basis for modern language teaching claimed that “One of the chief characteristics of a good method consists in enabling learners to dispense with the assistance of a teacher when they are capable of self-government” (Marcel: 1853). Nevertheless, it was Western education that first took student autonomy into the ‘mainstream’ approach, which means the incorporation of learner autonomy as a goal in national curricula. Richard C Smith argued that this ‘strong version’ of classroom-based pedagogy for autonomy has a more durable significance with reference to some examples from the past.

In the autonomy practice students might be engaged in taking charge of classroom-based learning in as many of the following areas as possible: ‘determining the objectives; defining the contents and the progressions; selecting methods and techniques to be used; monitoring the procedure of acquisition . . . (rhythm, time, place, etc.); evaluating what has been acquired’ (Holec, 1981).

Jiao (2005, p.28) gives four substantial reasons in support of learner autonomy for English learning: 1) It enhances the learner’s motivation and leads to more effective learning. 2)It provides learners with more opportunities for English communication in a non-native environment. 3) It caters to the individual needs of learners at all levels. 4) It has a lasting influence.

So once the students can learn autonomously, they can progress more and fast.

One of the tools that can promote student autonomy is Padlet Wall, on which teacher posts a specific theme to invite students to ‘vandalize’ the ‘Wall’ with ideas, feedbacks, their notes, their reflections on learning and even attach the linked URLs of their homework, related video and articles to support their ideas. This WallWisher can also be utilized for polling activity, like ‘Who is the best teacher of the year?’ and as a story board, creating dialogue, comic or movie collaboratively online. Therefore, ‘Graffiti On Wall’ is not a bad idea after all.

This week, we are asked to choose a peer for proofreading our final project work. I am paired up with Ta, my course mate from Thailand. She is diligent, critical and friendly. I am glad to have her in the team. Actually, this is a super busy week as the Lunar New year falls on the fourth day of the week, There are a lot of things to be accomplished but I was excited because of family gathering which is highlighted by my daughter and son’s coming back.