Part 2 Practica1 perspectives

5 Learner profiles

5.1 lntroduction

In educational contexts it is important to know as much as possible about the learners: their needs, their wants, their learning styles, their beliefs, their attitudes and their abilities. Monitoring learners is rela- tively easy in classroom-based learning. It is more difíicult to achieve in self-access learning because of the individualised nature of the work and because of the reduced leve1 of teacher contact. It might be argued that, in self-access, information about learners is in the private domain of the individuals and that they should be free not to disclose it. We are not suggesting that learners be forced to supply information but that they should be made aware of the benefits of doing so. Learners sbould be informed of the reasons for collecting information about them an$ for monitoring their activities. It should be made clear to them how this information will enhance the learning opportunities made available to them through self-access learning.

In this chapter we discuss the collection of information about learners and how this can contribute to enhancing the self-access Iearning experience. This enhancement is achieved firstly by making the learners individually more aware of their own language profile, and secondly by providing the information teachers need to develop materials and activities directly related to the requirements of the learners.

We suggest the use of learner profiles as an integrated approach to collecting and using information. These profiles are developed for and by individual learners and therefore are of irnmediate relevance to them. Because the profiles use a standardised format, information can be collected together into a central database from which analyses can be performed of al1 the self-access learners or selected sub-groups of them (e.g. beginners or part-time students). Such analyses are invaluaMe fUt the development of the self-access system, materials and activities. They could also contribute to the measurement of effectiveness (see Chapter 12), and to periodic reports and justifications of funding (see Chapter 4).

Both qualitative and quantitative data can be used in building learner

I profiles. These profiles can be linked very closely to learner assassments

@ Practica1 perspectives

&,d a n be used to record their outcomes. Profiles also have the gmtential to be used as the basis of assessment procedures. This is an b u e which requires careful consideration as it also involves risks (e.g. alienating learners or reducing the usefulness of the awareness raising potentiaiof profiles).

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In this cha~ter we íirst define learner profiles, then we discuss the goals of usingthem. Following this, we look at the benefits for students and teachers of using learner profiles. Then we look at what a learner profile contains, how to construct one and how to make it an on- going, updateable document. Finally, we comment on the issue of who should have access to the information in a learner profile and for what reasons.

5.2 A definition of a learner profile

A learner profile is a collection of information relating to an individual learner (see example in Figure 5.1; also see Section 7.2 for examples of activities for getting learners started on making profiles). Its purpose is to provide a picture of the learner's current development and future potential in terms which relate to self-access learning. The profile will: describe the learner's needs, wants and abilities; record the learner's goals and study plans; document actions taken to fulfil the study plans; and record learning outcomes. These are not new ideas. There is a lot of literature in the field of English language teaching about needs analysis (beginning with Munby 1978). Recording of learners' goals has been debated in the field of self-access learning under the guise of learner contracts (e.g. Dickinson r987; Or 1994). There is some discussion on the use of study plans in self-access and documenting their success (e.g. Or 1994; Gardner and Miller 1997). Finally, learning outcomes are widely debated in the literature on testing. What is new about the learner profile is an attempt to bring its elements together so they may interact and produce an integrated whole which is of use to both learners and teachers.

5.3 The goals of using learner profiles

There are two major goals in creating profiles of self-access learners. The T s t is to establish the needs and wants of the learners and the second is to monitor progress. These goals are equally relevant for self- access learners and teachers although their reasons for pursuing the oals are often different (Table 5.1).

Learner profiles

LEARNER PROFILE FOR:

Commencement Date:

To the learner The contents of this profile are al¡ about you. he purpose of the profile is to give an accurate picture of what you are able to do well and what you need to improve.The contents are not a secret record. You can see them at any time and you can also comment on what is recorded here. You can add whatever you like to this profile and staff in the Self-Access Centre may also add things. You might want to include non-paper items as part of this profile (e-g. a tape recording). That's OK. Just add a note in the relevant section saying where the document is. If you want to discuss your profile take it to your wunsellor.

Wbat to put in &¡.S- profile The profile is divided into the following sections:

1. Needs-and-wants analysis This section records what you need and also what you want to learn.

2. Contracts Here you can state the goals you will aim at during a specific penod of time.

3. Study plans In this section you keep the detailed plans you make to achieve your goals.

4. Records of learning achievement In this section you show your progress. You wuld use any of the following:

self assessments, peer assessments, tests, consultants' comments, Illlli-l your views of your progress, your class teachers' views.

5. Reflection Here you record your thoughts about the learning methods and materials you have been using and also about your progress.

Remember to keep this profile up to date.

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Figure 5.1. The first page o f a learner profile