Changes in Student Autonomy via E-Learning Courses

Abstract

Nowadays, the concept of autonomy is becoming increasingly crucial in the area of instruction, especially when new challenges call into question the efficiency and sustainability of the higher education system. The aim of the research is to identify emerging attributes and dimensions of student autonomy via e-learning courses, which facilitate the quality improvement of modern higher education, meet the requirements of digitally based learning content, contribute to increasing learners’ self-motivation, encourage their further individual and professional development and ultimately, promote long-life learning. The study was conducted among 75 master students enrolled in academically oriented and vocationally focused course “Foreign Language for Professional Activities” in 2020. Research has revealed changes in student’s perception of autonomy; examined extent of their willingness to carry out complicated tasks with the limited instructor’s guidance; determined the scope of responsibility of students to manage their own educational activity and track the progress; explored their initiative and persistence as well as detected the most frequent challenges students faced while completing the course.