E-learning and Autonomous Learning

Page 1

A study of students‟ responds towards Web-based Materials and learners autonomy A. Gumawang Jati (gumawang.jati@gmail.com)

E-learning and Autonomous Learning A study of students’ responds towards Web-based Materials and learners autonomy A. Gumawang Jati (gumawang.jati@gmail.com) Faculty of Art and Design, ITB www.itb.ac.id Bandung Talent Source www.bandungtalentsource.com

Abstract This paper reports on a study which examines students‟ responds towards webbased materials and learners autonomy. The web-based materials are put in a website (www.talenta-college.com/online) and accessed during the English class of a junior high school students grade VIII for a semester with an English teacher as a facilitator. These materials are also accessible (with usernames and passwords) from outside the class hours from any computer connected to the internet. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews and observations. The data show that the students enjoy learning English using web-based materials and the data from interviews and observations show reasonable levels of students‟ autonomy.

Introduction There has long been a perceived relationship between web-based materials in general, and multimedia-based materials in particular, with self-study and learner autonomy and there are good reasons for this. Benson (2001, pp. 138–140) for example notes that multimedia applications offer a „„. . . rich linguistic and non-linguistic input, by presenting new language through a variety of media and by offering branching options‟‟, which, it is asserted, give students control over the selection of materials and over the strategies to use. However, before we consider the extent to which these associations and assertions happen, the first part of the paper defines web-based materials and, learner autonomy, and reviews work which has already been conducted. The remaining part of the paper deals with the study, it describes the English class in which the study took place. It then moves on to the research questions and the participants before considering the most significant findings.

Literature Review Web-based Materials

1997, p.1) defines as „„the search for and study of applications of the computer in language

Page

applications within the field of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) which (Levy,

1

Web-based Materials for language teaching and learning can be viewed as the software


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.