I have completed so much reading the last couple of weeks about autonomous learning it is all starting to blend together. In the beginning, I did not have a clear understanding of autonomous learning. However, after completing the initial readings, I understood autonomous to mean learning completed independently of time and location. I was under the impressing that the information was basically put together in a pre-packaged format completed by the learner submitted for a grade and that was it.
But, as I continue to grow and develop as an autonomous learner, so does my appreciation for what is needed to be a true autonomous learner. It is not just about the processing of pre-packaged information. A true autonomous learner is a self directed learner, taking responsibility for the direction that his or her learning takes. When one truly becomes an autonomous learner they embrace not only the role of the learner but also that of the instructor.
Autonomous learning has changed drastically over the last 15 years when I initially started in this format. There is a lot more contact, group work, and better technology. Instructors seem to be a better fit for classes than in the past. Some are willing to adjust lesson plans to incorporate current events. Classes are not as set-in-stone. However, the independence afforded through autonomous learning can also be beneficial for those who want to attend college without the hassles that often go with traditional learning.
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