Master Project:
Advisor: Jutarat Vibulphol, ph.D.
Presenter: Miss Shi Xiaowei
Overview
• Contexts of the Study
• Methods
• Findings
Contexts of the Study
• Autonomy is one of the desirable characteristics
required by Thai national curriculum (Ministry
of Education, 2008).
• Challenge: Thai students are familiar with
knowledge-oriented and teacher-centered
instructions (Rukthong, 2008; Vansteemkiste, et
al, 2005).
Santirat Wittayalai School
• Santirat Wittayalai School is a largesized high school in central Bangkok.
– Grade 7-12
– Approx. 2,400 students
– Co-ed school
• It promotes learner autonomy
– School curriculum
– Extra-curricula activity
– Facilities
School Curriculum
Grades 7-9: Ss search information to
complete tasks outside classroom.
School Curriculum (Cont’)
Grades 10-12: Ss share & discuss topics
based on their own interests.
Extra-curricula Activity
English Club: Ss work in groups then share
knowledge and come up with a project.
School Facilities
• E-learning center
• E-classroom
• English Resource Instruction Center
(ERIC center)
• School library
Research Questions
1. What are the levels of autonomy of
students in different grades?
2. Do the levels of autonomy of students
in different grades vary?
Significance of the Study
• The school can provide appropriate
support such as materials & facilities.
• The school can help to enhance T’s
capabilities to support Ss’ self learning.
• The instructors can adjust their
instruction to enhance learner autonomy.
Methods
Population: Ss in grades 7-12 at Santirat
Wittayalai School in the academic year
2010.
Participants: 345 Ss (149 male, 196 female)
Instrument: Autonomous Learning Scale
(Macaskill & Taylor’s, 2010)
1. I enjoy finding information about new topics on my own.
2. I frequently find excuses for not getting down to work.
3. I am good at meeting deadlines.
4. My time management is good.
5. I am happy working on my own.
6. Even when tasks are difficult I try to stick with them.
7. I am open to new ways of doing familiar things.
8. I enjoy being set a challenge.
9. I plan my time for study effectively.
10.I tend to be motivated to work by assessment deadlines.
Validity & Reliability check
11.I take responsibility for my learning experiences.
• Back translation
12. I enjoy new learning experiences.
• Pilot study
Criterion for Interpreting the Data
1.51-2.50
low level
1.00-1.50
very low
3.51-4.50
2.51-3.50 high level
moderate
4.51-5.00
very high
Findings: Research Question 1
Levels of Autonomous
Year of Study
x
S.D.
Learning
Grade 7
3.33
0.52
Moderate
Grade 8
3.34
0.37
Moderate
Grade 9
3.22
0.42
Moderate
Grade 10
3.27
0.46
Moderate
Grade 11
3.12
0.38
Moderate
Grade 12
3.56
0.41
High
Overall
3.30
0.45
Moderate
Discussion
Most Ss showed autonomy at the moderate
levels.
- Asian culture may affect learner’s
autonomy (Rukthong, 2008).
Findings: Research Question 2
The results from ANOVA:
Sum of
Squares
df
Mean Square
Between Groups
5.280
5
1.056
Within Groups
63.218
339
.186
Total
68.498
344
F
5.663
The levels of autonomy of students in each grade
were significantly different.
Sig.
.000
Findings: Research Question 2(Cont’)
The results from Post Hoc Tests:
(I) GRADE (J) GRADE
grade12
Mean Difference
(I-J)
Std. Error
Sig.
95% Confidence Interval
Lower
Upper
Bound
Bound
grade7
.2334
.08218
.156
-.0417
.5085
grade8
.2230
.08274
.205
-.0539
.5000
grade9
.3368(*)
.08116
.005
.0651
.6085
grade10
.2905(*)
.08566
.045
.0038
.5772
grade11
.4377(*)
.08910
.000
.1394
.7359
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
Twelfth grade students showed the level of autonomy
significantly varied from students in grade 9, 10 and 11.
Discussion
Ss of grade 12 showed autonomy at the
high level.
- Motivation may affect autonomy of Ss in
grade 12.
Limitation
• Some participants might not pay
adequate attention when they completed
the questionnaire.
Further Study
• Study the factors that may affect high
level of autonomy of Ss in grade 12.
• Collect data from English language
instructors to investigate how they
conceptualize and support autonomy
in their instruction.
References
Ministry of Education. (2008). The Basic Education Core Curriculum
of 2008. Bangkok: Ministry of Education.
Rukthong, A. (2008). Readiness for Autonomous Language LearningThai University Learners' Beliefs about EFL Learning & Use of
Learning Strategies. Bangkok: Mahidol University.
Vansteenkiste, M., Zhou, M.M., Lens, W., & Soenens, B. (2005).
Experiences of Autonomy and Control Among Chinese Learners:
Vitalizing or Immobilizing? Journal of Educational Psychology, 97
(3), 468-483.