The Development of Learner Independence - Essay Example

Learner independence or autonomy can be defined as the “capacity to take responsibility for, and control of, your own learning, whether in an institutionalized context or completely independent of a teacher or institution” (Thornbury, 2006). Learner independence is the ability of the learners to control their learning process (Holec, 1981). In the present age, when knowledge is growing at a very fast pace because of the ongoing research work and rapid advancements in technology, the importance of independent learning cannot be overemphasized. Learners must understand that the education they are provided with at institutions is time-constrained, and what they need to learn is not limited to what they are taught in schools. Most learners used to learning in the traditional classroom environment do not develop independence in learning because this behavior is not emphasized enough by the teachers. Many students would opt for independent learning if the teachers tell them that the resources can be used independently as well if they are interested in further self-study (Krzanowski, 2007). It is very essential for students to understand the process through which learning takes place and what style works best for an individual. Since distance learning requires self-motivation and independent learning on the part of the students, the importance of understanding this process increases. Einstein has emphasized the importance of providing learners with an environment that is best-suited to their learning needs and optimizes their tendency to develop autonomy as learners in these words, “I never teach my students. I simply provide the situations in which they can learn” (Einstein cited in Chalyova, 2011).
As discussed by Bourner and Race (2008), part-time and distance learners need to consider the importance of ‘E’ words. All learning needs to be effective, efficient and economic as time is precious and all students taking on this challenging task want to succeed. The final ‘e’ to consider is effort and how and where to apply the effort will be driven by the student's ability to learn and reflect (Bourner and Race, 2008).