1. Cem BALÇIKANLI
University of Florida
Center for European Studies
E-mail: balcikanli@ufl.edu
12th Annual NCOLCTL Conference,
2009
Madison, USA

2. Overview
* It is a fact! Internet!
* Learner autonomy
* Ongoing research
* Conclusions

3. Social Network Participation Rates among
University of Florida Students
Student has only a Facebook account 281 % 54.35
Student has only a MySpace account 10 % 1.93
Student has both a Facebook and MySpace account 210 % 40.62
Student has neither a Facebook or Myspace account 18 % 3.09
Martin, K. And Schemeisser, H. (2008). Emerging Trends in Youth Voting
Behavior. Social Networking Websites and The 2008 General Election

4. A 2006 survey of academic community
members found that 90 % of the
undergraduates participated in a social
network community, primarily Facebook
and MySpace.
Stutzman, F. (2006). An evaluation of identity-sharing behavior in social
network communities. Paper presented at the iDMAa and IMS Code
Conference, Oxford, Ohio.
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5. “Online learning offers a rich linguistic
and non-linguistic input, by presenting
new language through a variety of media
and by offering branching options.”
Benson, P. (2001). Teaching and Researching Autonomy in Language Learning.
London: Longman.

6. “the ability to take charge of one's own
learning”
Holec, H. 1981. Autonomy and Foreign Language Learning. Oxford:
Pergamon.
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7. a shift in from exclusive
focus on how to improve language
teaching to an inclusive concern for how
individual learners go through their
learning.
Gremmo, M.J. and Riley, P. (1995). Autonomy, self-direction and self access in
Language Teaching and Learning: The History of an Idea. System, 23 (2),
151-164.
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8. Impetus for the study
new technologies- provide the practical
means whereby learners can take a more
active part in decisions involved in
learning.
Raya, M. J. and Fernandez, J. M. P. (2002). Learner Autonomy and New
Technologies. Education Media International. 39 (1). 61-68.

9. Center for European Studies,
in the University of Florida
Six American Students
Learning Turkish
Blackboard Learning
Management System
Interviews

17. Is it easy to use?
Is it interesting? Why?
Is it good for Turkish practice? How?
What special features does it have?
__ glossary
__ easy vocabulary
__ useful language
__ stories about (Turkish/___)
__ video
__ lots of pictures
__ links to related stories
__ quizzes
How does it contribute to your independent skills?
How does it help develop your awareness of Turkish
language?

18. Extracts from students
… it keeps me alert in Turkish. … blackboard is a good online
learning tool because I can
… since they are available access it when I need it.
there, whenever I need some
clarifications, I can go look at … it allows the teacher to post
them. materials that I can access
and save to my computer.
…it helps me keep track of my
own progress. … it allows the instructor to
put up documents and
…thanks to this, I feel I have programs that everybody
developed more awareness for might not need.
my learning.
… the potential use for
… it is very good for turkish language learning is great as
practice. it helps foster learner
autonomy.

19. Extracts from students II
… blackboard is important for … any assignment or quiz we
language classess. do in class, or even a specific
topic we just touched on in
… you can only learn so much class, can be put on
in class, so tools outside of blackboard.
class are important to keep up
and to review the learning. …it is a great source to
communicate from teacher to
…when the teacher uses all of the students.
Blackboard and puts up places
where the students can go, it … if you put up the answers
helps the students improve and after the quizzes are taken,
learn the language more. that is helpful too, because
then the students will what
… blackboard is a great site for they did wrong and need to
Turkish class fix.

20. Learner awareness
Learner reflection
Learner responsibillity
Learner independence
Learner interaction

21. Conclusion
1- Active learning
2- New technologies
3- Assumption of responsibility for
carrying out their own plans
4- Independence skills

22. 22

23. THANK YOU
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