INTRODUCTION TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION TO PROMOTE AUTHONOMY

INTRODUCTION TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION TO PROMOTE AUTHONOMY

In order to achieve freedom as individuals, Teacher has to develop different abilities which allow them to take more responsibility in handling the diverse matters of the society they live in. It is important to see autonomy and new technologies as the freedom and ability to manage one's own affairs, which entails the right to make decisions as well; in addition and as Scharlie & Szabó (2001) stated:

“Responsability in Autonomous environments may also be understood as being in charge of 

 

something, but with the implication that one has to deal with the consequences of 

 

one's own actions. Autonomy and responsability both require active involvement, and 

 

are apparently very much interrelated.”

 

 

 

 

Teachers and Students agreeing that in autonomous environments using new technologies, language learners take responsibility for the totality of their learning situations. They do this by determining their own objectives, defining the contents to be learned and the process, selecting methods and techniques to be used, monitoring this procedure, and evaluating what they have acquired, also, I consider that both teachers and learners need to know who they are, what they can expect from each other and what their respective attitudes towards the context of learning are. When teachers and learners decide to enhance the class in Autonomous environments using new thecnologies they need to know what it involves, what responsabilities and duties they must assume as well as the expected degree of autonomy they are looking for.

As I suggested above, Autonomy must be understood as a critical reflection that teachers do on when, where, how and from what sources students should learn. This type of autonomy mainly takes place when teachers monitor students’ thinking and behavior, when teachers reflect about their own practice and role in the classroom, when they also attempt to understand and advise students, and, finally, when they engage in investigative and cultural activities.