Developing Intentional Learning Skills Among E-Commerce Student—Action Research in Metacognition Through Reflective Learning Log

Abstract

Intentional learners are self-directed people who take charge of their education, whether in a setting or an informal setting. Learners who practice intentional learning skills choose their learning methodologies and organize their studies in accordance with their interests, preferences, and speed. This study embarks on the following objectives: (i) To look into ways how to scaffold intentional learning experiences among the student and ritualize the intentional learner’s mindsets and best practice skills, (ii) To investigate the effects (through a reflective learning log) of intentional learning skill of student on their study habits and attitudes toward learning, and, (iii) To examine their critical reflection log while they are studying E-commerce module which is underpinned by the intentional learning paradigm and Hatton and Smith’s framework. In this qualitative study, data from 140 students in three classes of E-Commerce were required to write reflections that would be used to determine final grades using the reflective learning log. In order to support students’ purposeful learning development as they join the job market, the study’s findings strongly imply that they urgently need to strengthen their reflective writing skills while enrolled in higher education. The undergraduate must also be given the fundamental tools necessary to shape them into purposeful learners through exercises in reflective learning. The Hatton and Smith reflective framework worked well for categorizing written reflections and making the reflective learning log evaluation less subjective. This study brought to light the fact that many business students were unfamiliar with the genre of reflective writing and that this genre needed to be explicitly taught in the relevant course. Hence, to support students’ purposeful learning development as they join the job market, the study’s findings strongly imply that they urgently need to strengthen their reflective writing skills while enrolled in higher education.