Technology for autonomy: useful computer-assisted language learning tools in the autonomous classroom and beyond.
Klaus Schwienhorst
Director of Center for Languages for Special Purposes, Leibnitz University, Hanover, Germany
Almost since the early days of learner autonomy in the late seventies/early eighties, the concept had strong links to the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL). With the spread of Internet technologies in the nineties, CALL became the prime tool or vehicle to realise several of learner autonomy’s central goals: helping learners to assume responsibility for their own learning; learners making decisions on learning environments, learning resources and learning schedules; learners reflecting on language and language learning; learners communicating in the target language at all times. The workshop will start with a short overview of 40 years of technology-supported language learning in learner autonomy and then continue to experiment hands-on in small groups with a selection of current CALL and mobile tools. Our goal is to evaluate the usefulness of a variety of CALL tools and then go on to establish a checklist of “must-have” features we expect in tools for the development of language learner autonomy. It is recommended that participants bring their own PCs and/ or Macs and/or Android devices.
Klaus Schwienhorst
Director of Center for Languages for Special Purposes, Leibnitz University, Hanover, Germany
Almost since the early days of learner autonomy in the late seventies/early eighties, the concept had strong links to the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL). With the spread of Internet technologies in the nineties, CALL became the prime tool or vehicle to realise several of learner autonomy’s central goals: helping learners to assume responsibility for their own learning; learners making decisions on learning environments, learning resources and learning schedules; learners reflecting on language and language learning; learners communicating in the target language at all times. The workshop will start with a short overview of 40 years of technology-supported language learning in learner autonomy and then continue to experiment hands-on in small groups with a selection of current CALL and mobile tools. Our goal is to evaluate the usefulness of a variety of CALL tools and then go on to establish a checklist of “must-have” features we expect in tools for the development of language learner autonomy. It is recommended that participants bring their own PCs and/ or Macs and/or Android devices.