A Move Towards Autonomy: Individualized Education Plans for Effective Materials Use

• Main Authors: Kenneth Cranker, Nicole Servais
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kanda University of International Studies 2013-06-01
• Series: Studies in Self-Access Learning Journal
• Subjects: SAC; materials use; education plans; websites; database; autonomy
• Online Access: http://sisaljournal.org/archives/june13/cranker_servais/

Over the past twenty years, self-access learning centers have faced challenges related to accessibility of materials and the fostering of autonomy. There has also been progress towards meeting those challenges, such as Brigham Young University’s web-based database for searching SAC materials and linking curriculum to SAC materials (McMurry, Tanner, & Anderson, 2010). Following that example and developing it further, the University of Delaware developed a system called the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that includes but goes beyond a Course Objectives Database (COD) similar to that of Brigham Young University. The COD alone was rather ineffective, but when the COD was combined with website resources and learner surveys modeled on Gardner and Miller (1999), the IEP emerged. A step-by-step guide to creating IEPs for use in other self-access environments is provided along with model forms. Finally, the results of informal surveys suggest that autonomous and goal-oriented learning might have been fostered by the use of IEPs.