Autonomous Learning in Distance Education Theories

Abstract

Individuals who live in the information age need to know the ways to access information to be able to use the information they have accessed and to produce new information. In order for individuals to have these qualities, they need to learn how to learn. Within this context, learner autonomy is very important in distance education system and lifelong learning. This research focuses on autonomous learning skills in foreign language learning in the context of distance education, which is widely discussed in the 21st century education system. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the autonomous learning skills that enable learners to learn on their own in terms of distance learning learners as well as aiming to examine the emergence of the concept of student autonomy in distance education within the framework of basic theories discussing language learning autonomy in this context. For these purposes, “Autonomy in Foreign Language Teaching,” “Autonomous Learner Features in Foreign Language Learning,” “Teacher and Student Roles in Autonomous Learning,” “The role of Teacher in Autonomous Learning,” “The Role of the Student in Autonomous Learning,” “Autonomous Learning in Distance Education,” “Areas and Approaches in Foreign Language Learning in Which Autonomous Learners Can Improve Themselves,” and “Distance Education Theories” in the field of open and distance education were addressed. Finally, the chapter presented recent technologies to foster autonomous learning in distance education.