A learner profile is one of the tools teachers might use to obtain information from the learner and help him/her gain control over his/her learning process. Gardner and Miller (1999) defines it as a "collection of information relating to an individual learner..(...)..the profile will describe the learners' needs, wants and abilities; record the learner's goals and study plans; document actions taken to fulfill the study plans, and record learning outcomes".
The following are some of the benefits of implementing this tool in your classes:
- Provides the teacher and the learner with information regarding how the learner is doing and what s/he needs to work on
- Helps the teacher match the learning needs and preferences of his/her students to the instructional design of the lesson
- Gives the teacher valuable information about how learners approach learning
- Fosters students' self-assessment as learners set goals, monitor progress, and assess their strengths and weaknesses
- Fosters students' autonomy since learners are encouraged to be active participants of their learning process as they reflect upon their goals and outcomes and propose action plans to increase effectiveness
Reference
Gardner, D. & Miller, L. (1999). Establishing self-access: From theory to practice. Cambridge: CUP.
