The term "learner autonomy" was first coined in 1981 by Henri Holec, the "father" of learner autonomy. It has been considered as a personal human trait, as a political measure, or as an educational move. One of the key aspects to consider in defining learner autonomy is 16 we view it as a means to an end (learning a foreign language) or  as an end in itself (making people autonomous learners). These two options do not exclude each other; they affect our views on language learning or learning in general. In the past decades, this term has become a(n) 17 word in foreign language education, especially in relation to lifelong learning. It 18 old practices in the language classroom and has given rise to self access language learning centers around the world such as the SALC at Kanda University of International Studies in Japan, the ASLLC at The Hong Kong Institute of Education, the SAC at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and ELSAC at the University of Auckland. 19 such practices, the learners are always 20 in the center of attention and language learning is considered as important as language teaching.

   Coral reefs are dying around the world. In particular, coral mining, pollution, digging of canals, and accessing islands and bays pose serious 21 to their fragile ecosystems. Coral reefs also face high dangers from diseases, 22 fishing practices and warming oceans. In order to find answers to these problems, researchers study the various factors that impact reefs. The list of factors is long, 23 the ocean's role as a carbon dioxide sink, atmospheric changes, ocean acidification, viruses, algal blooms and others. Reefs are threatened well beyond coastal areas. 

   Estimates assembled from coral reef specialists from around the world 24 that 19% of the coral reef habitat has already been destroyed, and that a further 17% is likely to be lost over the subsequent 10–20 years. Only 46% of the world’s reefs can be regarded as being in good health. About 60% of the world's reefs may be at risk due to destructive, human-related activities. The threat to the health of reefs is particularly alarming in Southeast Asia, where 80% of the reefs are endangered. By the 2030s, 90% of reefs are expected to be 25 from both human activities and climate change; by 2050, all coral reefs will be endangered.

   The public awareness of scientific fraud has increased significantly since the late 1980s when a controversy made front-page news, in which a paper investigated for fraud has as co-author a Nobel laureate. During the 1990s scientific fraud was disclosed on numerous occasions. In fact, it was recently suggested that fraud now is “endemic” in many scientific disciplines and in most countries. However, the clandestine nature and consequential lack of reliable information make it difficult to study scientific fraud. The features and frequency of scientific fraud, therefore, are generally unknown, and its impact on medical research is unclear. Biostatisticians routinely work closely with physicians and scientists in many branches of medical research and have unique insight into the data. In addition, they have the methodological competence to detect fraud and can be expected to have a special professional interest in the  validity of results. Biostatisticians therefore can provide unique and reliable information on the characteristics of fraud in medical research. The objective of this study was to assess the characteristics of fraud in medical research by surveying members of the International Society of Clinical Biostatistics (ISCB).

   Samuel Juan Academy has developed a unique approach to deal with underachieving students. Instead of punishing students for incomplete assignments or poor grades, the academy provides failing students with a reward. Through the Computers for Success program, Samuel Juan Academy students who fall behind their classmates in reading and mathematics are given their own computers. For nine weeks, the students get to keep a personal computer with a printer and software in their homes. They can work and play with the computer whenever they like and as often as they like. Is this a prize for being poor performers in school? "It may look that way to an outsider," says school principal Edna Seymour, "but this approach is actually well-backed by research. Studies show that students who are computer literate do much better in school. The figures rise for students who actually have a computer at home, and are even higher for students from homes where most of the family members are comfortable using a computer." When a student is given a computer to take home, families are encouraged to get into the act, too. Students in the Computers for Success program are required, together with their parents and siblings, to attend a weekend computer seminar. This way everyone in the family becomes familiar with the use of the computer. This is an investment in the students' educational future. "It is widely accepted that parental involvement makes all the difference in a child's academic success," says Principal Seymour. "We are extending this idea to involve families in our computer literacy program. As part of that program, we make it possible for families to buy refurbished computers at an affordable price. Many of our families have already taken advantage of this opportunity. On the whole, we have been very pleased with the Computers for Success program."

   Today, thousands of people receive medical treatments that couldn’t have been imagined in previous generations. Treatments that were once impossible have become routine practices due to the implementation of new technology that enhances people’s quality of life. 

    Predictably, much of the technology used in medicine has been thought up by doctors, not laymen, but their methods of invention might surprise you. A Dutch physician invented the first dialysis machine in 1943 by employing various household items, including a washing machine! It took years to perfect the equipment, but now it saves the lives of many who are waiting for kidney transplants. The birth of the pacemaker also has an interesting history. In 1930, an American heart surgeon created a device that could deliver electric shocks directly to the heart with a needle. This original pacemaker was operated by hand and was mostly shunned by the medical community. They believed that keeping a damaged heart beating was too unnatural. Fortunately, by 1950s, people conceded that the idea did have merit, and several new and improved models were designed. 

    Since the discovery of X-rays in 1894, doctors have been able to look inside their patients without cutting them open. While traditional X-rays are still important, advancements in medical technology have made it possible to get an even better glimpse inside the human body. One example is the MRI scanner, which creates a 3-D image out of multiple 2-D pictures. With this, minute internal flaws can be easily identified. If an extremely thorough look is needed, patients can undergo a capsule endoscopy, approved by the FDA in 2001. After swallowing a tiny pill-shaped camera, more than 800,000 pictures can be taken inside the patient’s digestive system and wirelessly uploaded to a physician’s computer.           The most regularly performed surgery prior to the 20th century was the removal of limbs, and the tools available for this operation were limited to saws and knives. Now there are many more choices that cause considerably less trauma to the body. Endoscopic surgery is one modern procedure that requires minimal recovery time for the patient. During one of these surgeries, a camera and special instruments are inserted into the body through small cuts that are less than an inch long. The surgeon controls the equipment via a connection line and a monitor; it’s almost like maneuvering through a video game! Another contemporary variation in surgeries is the use of lasers to cut the body’s tissue. Although this method is already predominant in eye surgeries, it is currently being tested in other types of operations as well. The benefits of using lasers are that wounds heal more quickly and there are fewer chances of post-surgical infections. 

    Luckily for us, technology is a fundamental part of medicine today and has led to the development of lifesaving techniques. With so much progress in just the last few decades, more impressive medical technology is certain to arise in the future.