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About
the Scientific Commission
At its August
1993 meeting, the AILA International Coordinating Committee established
a Scientific Commission on Learner Autonomy in response to a proposal
developed by Anita Wenden and Leslie Dickinson. The proposal stated
the purpose of the Commission as follows:
- to develop
and establish a methodology of language learning;
- to stimulate
further research in the area of learner strategies, self-directed
learning, and self-instruction;
- to encourage
the development of curricula (including appropriate materials
and tasks) to incorporate language training with learner training
in a variety of instructional contexts, and to evaluate these
projects.
At
the 1999 AILA SC Business Meeting in Tokyo, David Crabbe, Naoko
Aoki and Jonathan Shaw were asked to produce a revised statement
of aims for the SC. Members were sent a copy of the revised statement
of aims (which appear below) in March 2000 and were invited to
contact one of the SC convenors with any suggested modifications.
None were received and the revised statement of aims and objectives
was presented in December 2002 at the AILA SC Business Meeting
in Singapore, where it was formally adopted.
Purpose
The AILA Scientific Commission on Learner Autonomy
is established to advance understanding of the role of learner
autonomy in successful language learning.
Aim
The aim of the Commission is to promote research
and disseminate findings on:
-
the nature of learner autonomy
- the
conditions under which learner autonomy develops in individuals
- processes
by which teachers or advisors might encourage or enhance learner
autonomy in specific learning contexts
Objectives
The objectives of the Commission are:
- to
maintain a data-base of its members and the research projects
undertaken by them and other researchers
-
to maintain a website and a bibliography of material related
to learner autonomy
- to
prepare an annual newsletter
- to
hold forums at the International Congress of AILA and at other
appropriate times in which research is presented and discussed.
The first
meeting of AILA's Scientific Commission on Learner Autonomy was
held at the AILA Congress in Amsterdam on Thursday 12 August,
1993, at which Leslie Dickinson (UK) and Anita Wenden (USA) were
elected as co-convenors for 1993-1996. Leni Dam (Denmark) and
Sara Cotterall (NZ) were elected as co-convenors for 1996 - 1999.
Since its
formation in 1993, convenors and other members of the Scientific
Commission have organised a symposium on learner autonomy at each
successive AILA Congress, have established an electronic discussion
list (AUTO-L), developed a listing of research projects (LAPI),
edited two special issues of System on issues related to
learner autonomy and published an annual newsletter.
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