Political Science

Autonomy is perceived and described as the capacity of control over one’s own learning. According to Benson (p79 2010) most people know that   autonomy and autonomous learning is not synonyms of 'self-instruction’, ‘self-access', 'self-study', 'self-education', 'out-of-class learning' or 'distance learning'. These terms are used to describe a variety of ways and degrees of education by self. However the autonomy refers to abilities and attitudes of a given person and their ability to control their own learning processes. The autonomy is the individualized form of learning. With the age of information and computing enhancing different methods, the autonomy has incorporated the use of software and online platform as a method of teaching and learning. According to Lee (p 89 2011):
‘These materials include virtual and 3D environments with gaming-like experiences
Highly interactive, multi-sensory environments provide access to real world simulations, popularizing online multiuser Virtual environments and massively multiplayer online games.’
With the use of these 3D materials and other technological material, the computer aided language learning materials in a learner centered approach allows the second language learner to take control of their own learning at their own pace and time. This flexibility is the core of the teaching and learning method.
Learner autonomy entails the students getting more involved in learning by taking up responsibility for various aspects and stages in the learning process, including setting goals, determining content, selection of resources and techniques as well as assessing progress (Illies p506 2012). The framework involves the learner as a decision maker who exercises varying degrees of control at the levels of learning management, learning content and various cognitive processes (Illies p506 2012). However, as a teaching method the learner require training in order to acquire the metacognition and metalanguage necessary for...