The Centre For Promoting Learner Autonomy

CPLA at Sheffield Hallam University is comitted to promoting learner autonomy and exploring the potential of enquiry based learning. The early years of the CETL focussed on encouraging reserach and debate around learner autonomy and how to stimulate it as well as supporting innovativer projects aimed at enhancing the student learning experience and student support systems. As the CETL moves into its final two years the focus has shifted considerably to ensure that learner autonomy is embedded across the university. Twenty two small scale projects have been funded for the academic year 2008/9. These span all faculties and pursue diverse approaches including working with international students, developing media literacy skills, mentoring schemes and student led resource creation.

The CETL will provide extensive support to these projects teams to ensure that the projects are completed within the academic year. The centre is also working very closely with all four faculties of the university on large scale faculty wide projects which have been developed in collaboration with the faculties to target those areas connected with learner autonomy which are currently under-developed. This will ensure a significant impact on the student experience across the institution and should provide a rich source of informatin for dissemination across the sector. The main focal point for this dissemination will be the CPLA website which will become an archive of materials , resources and practical case studies. The centre continues to promote reserach and scholarship through the introductoin of a 'STAR' - Strategic Team for Autonomy Research. The STARs will develop a literature around learner autonomy and provide guidelines and recommendations for both policy and pracatice around six core themes identified as important to learner autonomy.

CPLA website