Creating an infrastructure for autonomous learning: The resource catalogue

The recognition that greater autonomy in language learning requires the ability as well as the opportunity to make meaningful choices has focused attention on the need to combine the development of self-access facilities with pedagogical changes and learner support. There is now a wide literature not only on open and resource-based learning, but also on skills development and strategy training. This paper argues that provision enhancements, whether involving space, equipment, materials or methodology, must be accompanied by improvements in the accessibility of information and that this entails using a database system to catalogue resources. It presents the case for upgrading and computerizing resource catalogues, provides an overview of the process and describes how it was implemented at the University of East Anglia. It reports the problems encountered and ends with a brief discussion of outcomes.