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Autonomous Learning as a
Sustainable Approach to
Learning
March 8, 2021 | Mun

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What is Autonomous Learning pedagogy

According to Betts and Kercher (1999, p. 14), “an autonomous learner, by definition, is one professional development

who solves problems through a combination of divergent and convergent thinking, and
program evaluation
functions with minimal external guidance in selected areas of endeavor.” Through the
autonomous learning method, students not only discover their own learning needs but also tech

set their own learning goals, devise methods to achieve those learning goals on their own, values
as well as monitor and evaluate their own learning progress.

While it may seem like students take full charge of their learning in the autonomous
learning model, that doesn’t mean that the role of the teacher or other forms of learning
becomes redundant. Instead, teachers take on a different role in the learning process.
Teachers become more of a facilitator and guide rather than the primary driver of the ARCHIVES
learning process.
Select Month

The Autonomous Learning Model

The Autonomous Learner Model (ALM) was developed by George Betts and Jolene Kercher
with the aim of producing learners who are independent and self-directed. It was initially
aimed at gifted and talented students but this model can very well work for more students
in general.

Through the development of an alternative learning environment, the ALM equips students
with “skills, concepts, and positive attitudes within the cognitive, emotional, social, and
physical domains”, creating lifelong learners over the long run (Betts & Kercher, 1999).

Figure 1: The Autonomous Learner Model (Betts & Kercher, 1999)

The Autonomous Learner Model outlines 5 different dimensions:

1. Orientation — students learn about the Autonomous Learning Model and the program.
2. Individual Development — students develop skills, concepts, and attitudes that they
need to become life-long learners.
3. Enrichment — students learn content outside of their prescribed school curriculum by
developing their own curriculum.
4. Seminars — students demonstrate their ability to be learners and to work together in
groups while facilitated by a teacher.
5. In-Depth Study — students go deeper in their quest to become life-long learners through
individual and project work, finding mentors, learning to present, and assess their own
learning.

Pros and Cons of Autonomous Learning

In a report by Meyer, Haywood, Sachdev, & Faraday (2008), it was found that there is
evidence showing a positive correlation between autonomous learning and academic
performance, although there may also be other factors that contributed alongside to
achieve that result. A school in the United Kingdom which promoted independent learning
among its students reported that in not less than 5 GCSE exams, all of its students
managed to achieve grade C or higher.

Autonomous learning environments also encourage more engaged students who enjoy the
learning process and are more motivated to learn as compared to a more restrictive
learning environment. This method of learning was found to be especially effective when
used on remedial readers and students with special educational needs (Meyer, Haywood,
Sachdev, & Faraday, 2008).

An autonomous learning environment also frees up pressure from teachers to direct

classroom learning, thereby allowing them more time to focus on groups needing more of
the teacher’s attention, especially when dealing with a mixed-ability classroom.

Implementing a self-directed learning environment may not work in all situations though.
While this mode of learning may be suitable for more mature students, I can imagine self-
directed learning would run into many problems if we try to implement this in elementary
grade levels. As a pre-cursor to adopting an autonomous learning model, the learner
should have developed critical thinking and problem-solving abilities and have the ability
to self-monitor their own progress.

This model also requires much discipline on the part of the student. A lack of discipline,
focus, and perseverance may result in a longer time needed for the completion of a
learning path, or worst still, in failing to achieve the learning goal altogether.

Autonomous Learning in Practice

Autonomous Learning is certainly not something new and is already in practice in across
different sectors including language learning and programming. There are examples
across both developed nations as well as developing countries.

The Hole in the Wall Project

The Hole in the Wall Project was championed by Sugata Mitra, an Indian computer scientist
and educational theorist. Mitra’s work inspired the novel Q&A which was then developed
into the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. In 1999, Mitra conducted an experiment
where he placed a computer in a kiosk in a wall in a slum at Kalkaji, New Delhi, India.
Children in the slum were allowed to use the computer freely and they figured out how to
use the computer to surf the web on their own and went on to teach other children how to
operate the computer. The experiment was repeated in two other locations to the same
success. Mitra calls this method Minimally Invasive Education™ (MIE), a solution that “uses
the power of collaboration and the natural curiosity of children to catalyze learning”.

Unschooling
In India, there are parents who are creating self-directed learning environments for their
children by letting their children learn what they want, when they want. Vidhi Jain
started Shikshantar, an organic learning community and self-directed learning space in
Udaipur. This movement began with a network of 50 families which has since grown to
10,000 families. Mealtimes are designated but children have the autonomy to wake when
they want and choose what activity they want to participate in throughout the day.
Unschooling is slightly different from homeschooling in that the role of the parents/teachers
and the curriculum differ. In homeschooling, parents take on the role of the teacher and
follow a planned curriculum. In unschooling, children do not need formal education to learn
and as such, they do not need to study subjects like Math and Science unless they are
interested.

Shikshantar Unschoolers Winter Camp

Language Learning
Autonomous learning can be seen in practice in language learning through self-access
learning centres (SALC) like SALC in Japan, the ASLLC in Hong Kong, and ELSAC in New
Zealand. These centres offer students an environment where they can develop
independent language learning skills either on their own or in small groups. The centres are
equipped with relevant softwares, reading materials and guides are on hand to offer
support.

Programming
In 2013, French billionaire Xavier Niel made headlines by launching a coding school
called 42 that claimed to be teacherless and completely free. The school first started in
Paris and has since expanded to other cities around the world including Silicon Valley,
Amsterdam, Helsinki, Madrid, São Paulo, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and many more. 42
adopts an innovative approach to admissions whereby applicants participate in a four-
week intensive coding bootcamp called Piscine. Those who survive the Piscine are then
admitted to the program which runs from one to five years, depending on the speed of the
student.

Technology for Building Learner Autonomy

Technology can play a big role in increasing the effectiveness of autonomous learning,
especially in connecting, collaborating, and constructing learning.

Connecting
With the advent and advancement in technology, a student’s classroom is not limited to
four walls. Video and audio conferencing tools such as Google Meet and Zoom enable
students to connect with learners from anywhere across the world. Opportunities to
connect with learners from different cultures can help students broaden their learning
perspectives and enrich their learning.

Collaborating
There is also collaborative technology that can be utilized by students in their solution
investigation while working with peers and expert community members. These tools
provide a space to document and share learning in an online environment. Tools
like Padlet, Edmodo, and Google Classroom can serve as a virtual space for students to
document and share their work, communicate, collaborate, and reflect.

Constructing Learning
Pointing learners in the direction of resources online for them to find online support can
help them construct their learning more effectively. Help pages and community platforms
like GitHub and video tutorials found on YouTube can be a great source of learning online
for students. A tool like Quizlet can also help students master various topics using learning
tools and games.

There is also a range of digital tools that students can use to create artifacts of their
learning. For instance, they can use Penzu to create an online journal of their
learning, Flipgrid to record and share a video response, or even Voki to create a talking
animated figure.

Conclusion
Autonomous learning may seem like a wonderful solution to the issue of teacher shortages
especially in developing countries where education reforms may be slow — let the learner
direct their own learning while teachers take on a secondary role in the learning process.

While this learning model can produce more engaged learners through student
choice, McCombs (2010) sums it best by saying that giving choice in itself is ineffective.
That choice needs to first come with the “capacity to choose”. Too much freedom can
result in difficulty in decision-making for students. How can students decide what’s in their
own best interest and what best meets their personal learning goals if they have not
developed the capability to judge and decide? For autonomous learning to work, it is
imperative that we not only give students choice, but we also need to help them discover
their own interests, needs, values, and preferences while seeking out their dreams and what
it is they want to achieve.

References
1. Betts, G.T. & Kercher, J.K. (1999). The autonomous learner model: Optimizing ability. ALPS
Publishing.
2. Betts, G. (2016, March). The autonomous learning model for high school programming.
Retrieved March 7, 2021, from
https://www.nagc.org/sites/default/files/ALM_Insider_March2016.pdf
3. Meyer, B., Haywood, N., Sachdev, D., & Faraday, S. (2008). What is independent learning
and what are the benefits for students? (Rep.). London: Department for Children, Schools
and Families Research Report 051. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from
http://www.curee.co.uk/files/publication/%5Bsite-
timestamp%5D/Whatisindependentlearningandwhatarethebenefits.pdf
4. Sugata Mitra – the professor with his head in the cloud. (2016, June 07). Retrieved March
07, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jun/07/sugata-mitra-
professor-school-in-cloud
5. Mitra, S. (2012, February 03). The hole in the wall project and the power of self-organized
learning. Retrieved March 07, 2021, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/self-organized-
learning-sugata-mitra
6. Hole-in-the-wall. (n.d.). Retrieved March 07, 2021, from http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/
7. Jain, S., & Jain, M. (2014, February 28). Shikshantar, Udaipur : Towards an organic learning
community. Retrieved March 07, 2021, from https://vikalpsangam.org/article/shikshantar-
udaipur-towards-an-organic-learning-community/
8. Desai, K. (2019, September 03). Meet the kids who learn without ever going to school –
times of india. Retrieved March 07, 2021, from
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/meet-the-kids-who-learn-without-ever-
going-to-school/articleshow/70533306.cms
9. The Digital Teacher (n.d.). Tips – Using digital tools to develop learner autonomy.
Cambridge Assessment English. Retrieved March 07, 2021, from
https://thedigitalteacher.com/training/using-digital-tools-to-develop-learner-
autonomy-tips
10. McCombs, B. (2010). Developing responsible and autonomous learners: A key to
motivating students. American Psychological Association. Retrieved March 07, 2021, from
https://www.apa.org/education/k12/learners

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Mun Shing Cheong

I am passionate about all things digital and thrive on seeing transformed

lives through education and technology.

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4 thoughts on “Autonomous Learning as a Sustainable

Approach to Learning”

Deanna Bush

2 Years Ago

This was compelling: “In unschooling, children do not need formal education to
learn and as such, they do not need to study subjects like Math and Science
unless they are interested.” As a traditional school teacher I struggle with
unschooling concepts but see their value. It seems like in the United States, the
state requirements that parents provide documentation of their child’s learning
result in some boundaries/guidance for content and pace.

Tangentially related, I especially found this comment thought-provoking: “How

can students decide what’s in their own best interest and what best meets their
personal learning goals if they have not developed the capability to judge and
decide.” It seems like critical thinking skills and self-reflection are things that
students will develop naturally because they must when engaged in these
formats of learning.

REPLY

Mun Shing

2 Years Ago

I’m with you there, Deanna! I kinda struggle with the unschooling concept myself
personally and yes, critical thinking is very much a necessity for this learning
method.

REPLY

Joey H

2 Years Ago

You mention the following question: “How can students decide what’s in their own
best interest and what best meets their personal learning goals if they have not
developed the capability to judge and decide?” This makes me go back to the
top of this piece where you mention the different role of the teacher/faciltator. It
also makes me think of someone providing some sort of curriculum, or perhaps
just key concepts to be mastered for literacy in a given area.
For example, could someone who wants to work on cars be told to do what they
want in terms of learning (ex sports cars only, or Hondas), but that no matter
what they should understand catalytic converters, removing and rotating tires,
understanding diagnostic codes?

I guess what I’m wondering is how to do students know whether they’re wasting
their time or not? (That’s a fair enough question in any classroom, now that I think
about it!)

REPLY

Yanira Gale

2 Years Ago

My favorite quote is “it is imperative that we not only give students choice, but we
also need to help them discover their own interests, needs, values, and
preferences while seeking out their dreams and what it is they want to achieve.” I
think this sentence captures the essence of what education should be.

REPLY

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