An Empirical Study On The Effect Of Flipped Classroom On The English Autonomous Learning Ability Of College Students

The development of technology not only affects the teaching forms and means,but also transforms the teaching concepts.As a burgeoning teaching model under the influence of information technology,flipped classroom(FC)reverses the order of the knowledge transmission and knowledge internalization,and promotes the autonomous learning(AL)of students.Scholars both abroad and at home have conducted research in FC and AL.However,the specific effect of FC on college students’ English autonomous learning ability(EALA)is still in exploratory stage.The present study attempts to investigate the influence of FC on college students’ EALA.Based on the research purpose,the study aims to answer the following three questions:(1)What are the changes of college students’ EALA after they study in the FC for one semester?(2)What are the factors influencing the changes of college students’ EALA in FC?(3)In what way college students’ EALA can have effects on English academic achievement(EAA)in FC?83 non-English major sophomores from two classes in City Institute,Dalian University of Technology participated in the present study.Questionnaires and tests were used to investigate the changes in students’ EALA and EAA.Additionally,the quantitative data were supplemented by interviews to explore the specific changes in students’ EALA and its influencing factors.With the observation all through one semester,the findings are given as follows:Firstly,students in FC showed better quality in learning strategies,time planning and self-monitoring,and students’ ability of using Internet was significantly improved.Secondly,teachers’ class activities design,students’ cooperative learning,and the grasp of information technology of both teachers and students are the main factors that influenced college students’ EALA in FC.Finally,the improvement of students’ EALA has positive effects on their EAA,especially in listening and writing.The current research enriches the empirical studies pertaining to college students’ EALA in FC,and offers some implications for the cultivation of college students’ EALA and the improvement of FC teaching method.