The purpose of this study is to evaluate the improvement of self-directed learning attitudes based on Web-based assignments, with a particular focus on listening. This study contains three main parts: a summary of related literature reviews on self-di...
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the improvement of self-directed learning attitudes based on Web-based assignments, with a particular focus on listening. This study contains three main parts: a summary of related literature reviews on self-directed learning and Web-based English instruction, a research study, and an analysis of results and discussion.
This study allowed 425 students to participate in the Web-based assignment projects with the aim of obtaining data to verify improvement of the learner's self-directed attitudes and relevant English listening skills. The students that participated in the experiments have implemented two steps of listening assignments on Saturdays for 13 weeks. The first step was to create a climate, which enable participants to embark on the self-study through the appointed tasks teachers presented. The second step was to encourage the participants to accomplish their own self-directed assignments. The participants have accomplished tasks through the Internet, opening up new field of interests. The learners actively take part in every phase of this process and decide everything from specific activities of language learning and location to time schedule. Collected data of this study include analyses of questionnaires and an interview with teachers and students who participated in this study.
The results of this study are as follows: considerable participants have made a positive change of self-directed learning attitudes. An increased number of students have started Web-based English learning or showed interest in the self-directed English studies. It was confirmed that challenging and authentic language learning through the web-based assignments gave an increased sense of motivation and self-directed learning attitude to the learners.