Autonomous Language Learning with Technology: Beyond the Classroom

✍ Scribed by Chun Lai

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 241
• Series: Advances in Digital Language Learning and Teaching
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book looks beyond the classroom, and focuses on out-of-class autonomous use of technology for language learning, discussing the theoretical frameworks, key findings and critical issues. The proliferation of digital language learning resources and tools is forcing language education into an era of unprecedented change. The book will stimulate discussions on how to support language learners to construct quality autonomous technology-mediated out-of-class learning experience outside the classroom and raise greater awareness of and research interest in this field.
Out-of-class learning constitutes an important context for human development, and active engagement in out-of-class activities is associated with successful language development. With convenient access to expanded resources, venues and learning spaces, today’s learners are not as dependent on in-class learning as they used to be. Thus, a deeper understanding of the terrain of out-of-class learning is of increasing significance in the current educational era. Technology is part and parcel of out-of-class language learning, and has been a primary source that learners actively use to construct language learning experience beyond the classroom. Language learners of all ages around the world have been found to actively utilize technological resources to support their language learning beyond formal language learning contexts. Insights into learners’ out-of-class autonomous use of technology for language learning are essential to our understanding of out-of-class learning and inform educators on how language learners could be better supported to maximize the educational potentials of technology to construct quality out-of-class learning experience.

✦ Table of Contents

Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Part 1 Understanding Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology
Chapter 1 Introducing Key Concepts
Aspects of autonomy
Goals of autonomous language learning
Related terms
Chapter 2 Theoretical Backgrounds and Frameworks
Affinity of technology and autonomous learning
Theoretical perspectives in understanding autonomous language learning with technology beyond the classroom
Chapter 3 The Nature of Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology
The nature of autonomous out-of-class language learning with technology
The quality of out-of-class autonomous language learning
Constructing a diversity- and balance-oriented quality framework
Chapter 4 Factors that Affect Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology
Learner internal factors
Learner external factors
Interaction of internal and external factors
Part 2 Promoting Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology
Chapter 5 Promoting Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology: Learner Training
Learners’ perceptions of autonomous learning with technology beyond the classroom
Supporting language learners’ autonomous learning with technology beyond the classroom
Chapter 6 Promoting Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology: Teachers’ Role
Conceptualizing teachers’ roles in promoting out-of-class autonomous use of technology for language learning – the component view
Fostering autonomous learning skills through in-class instructional arrangements and discourse
Conceptualizing teachers’ role in promoting out-of-class self-directed use of technology for language learning – the process
Teachers’ perceptions of teachers’ role
Helping teachers achieve their roles
Chapter 7 Promoting Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology: The Resource and Environment Design
Design Principle 1: To maximize the learning potentials of the experience design principles in relation to the language-learning potentials
Design Principle 2: To achieve an optimal relationship between in-class and out-of-class learning
Design Principle 3: To make learners an integrative part of the design process
Part 3 Researching Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology
Chapter 8 Towards a Research Agenda of Out-of-Class Autonomous Language Learning with Technology
Key areas of research
Research methods
Chapter 9 Conclusion and the Way Forward
References
Index