Metacognitive Self-regulated Learning Research Articles

Gender differences in the relations between EFL students' classroom relationships and English language proficiency: The mediating role of self-regulated learning strategy use

This study aimed to explore English as a foreign language (EFL) students' classroom relationships (i.e., teacher-student relationships and peer relationships) and understand how these relationships contribute to English language proficiency between boys and girls. This paper discussed and highlighted the mediating role of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategy use. Self-report questionnaires with 436 4th-5th graders were adopted in a Chinese cultural context. Results of MANOVA revealed that there were generally no gender differences in teacher-student relationships and peer relationships. However, girls tended to use more SRL strategies (i.e., metacognitive and social strategies) than boys, while boys reported a higher level of English language proficiency than girls. Importantly, results from Multi-Group Structural Equation Modelling (MGSEM) suggested that the mediation effects of SRL strategy use between classroom relationships and English language proficiency were significantly different between boys and girls. Specifically, while boys' teacher-student relationships predicted their English language proficiency through metacognitive SRL strategy use, girls' English language proficiency was influenced by their peer relationships through the mediation of metacognitive SRL strategy use. Implications for classroom instructions and EFL teachers to promote boys' and girls’ English language learning through classroom relationships and SRL strategy use in a Chinese cultural context are discussed.

Extended TAM based acceptance of AI-Powered ChatGPT for supporting metacognitive self-regulated learning in education: A mixed-methods study

This mixed-method study explores the acceptance of ChatGPT as a tool for Metacognitive Self-Regulated Learning (MSRL) among academics. Despite the growing attention towards ChatGPT as a metacognitive learning tool, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing its acceptance in academic settings. Engaging 300 preservice teachers through a ChatGPT-based scenario learning activity and utilizing convenience sampling, this study administered a questionnaire based on the proposed Technology Acceptance Model at UTM University's School of Education. Structural equation modelling was applied to analyze participants' perspectives on ChatGPT, considering factors like MSRL's impact on usage intention. Post-reflection sessions, semi-structured interviews, and record analysis were conducted to gather results. Findings indicate a high acceptance of ChatGPT, significantly influenced by personal competency, social influence, perceived AI usefulness, enjoyment, trust, AI intelligence, positive attitude, and metacognitive self-regulated learning. Interviews and record analysis suggest that academics view ChatGPT positively as an educational tool, seeing it as a solution to challenges in teaching and learning processes. The study highlights ChatGPT's potential to enhance MSRL and holds implications for teacher education and AI integration in educational settings.

Investigating pedagogical agents' scaffolding of self‐regulated learning in relation to learners' subgoals

AbstractIntelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) incorporate pedagogical agents (PAs) to scaffold learners' self‐regulated learning (SRL) via prompts and feedback to promote learners' monitoring and regulation of their cognitive, affective, metacognitive and motivational processes to achieve their (sub)goals. This study examines PAs' effectiveness in scaffolding and teaching SRL during learning with MetaTutor, an ITS on the human circulatory system. Undergraduates (N = 118) were randomly assigned to a condition: Control Condition (i.e. learners could only self‐initiate SRL strategies) and Prompt and Feedback Condition (i.e. PAs prompted learners to engage in SRL). Learners' log‐file data captured when strategies were used, the initiator of the strategy (i.e. learner and PA), and the relevance of instructional content pages in relation to learner subgoals. While results showed that PAs were effective scaffolders of SRL in which they prompted learners to engage in SRL strategies more when content was relevant towards their subgoals and as time on page and task increased, there were mixed findings about the effectiveness of PAs as teachers of SRL. Findings show how production rules guiding PA prompts can improve their scaffolding and teaching of SRL across the learning task – through contextualizing SRL strategies to the instructional content and in relation to the relevance of the content to learners' subgoals.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Most learners struggle to efficiently and effectively use self‐regulated learning (SRL) strategies to attain goals and subgoals. There is a need for SRL to be scaffolded for learners to manage multiple goals and subgoals while learning about complex STEM topics. Intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) typically incorporate pedagogical agents (PAs) to prompt learners to engage in SRL strategy and provide feedback. There are mixed findings on the effectiveness of PAs in scaffolding learners' SRL. What this paper adds We consider PAs not only scaffolders but also teachers of SRL. Results showed that while PAs encouraged the use of SRL strategies when the content was relevant to subgoals, they did not discourage the use of SRL strategies when the content was not relevant. Results for this study were mixed in their support of PAs as teachers of SRL. Learners increasingly depended on PAs to prompt SRL strategies as time on task progressed. Implications for practice and/or policy PAs are effective scaffolders of SRL with more research needed to understand their role as teachers of SRL. PA scaffolding is more essential as time on task progresses. When deploying specific cognitive and metacognitive SRL strategies, the relevance of the content to learners' subgoals should be taken into account.

Investigating the relationship between self-regulated learning, metacognition, and executive functions by focusing on academic transition phases: a systematic review

The importance of self-regulated learning (SRL) for academic learning and achievement is already well established. In terms of developing a comprehensive understanding of SRL, executive functions (EFs), which are seen as an important influential factor for learning and goal-oriented behavior, should be taken into consideration. Some authors have linked SRL and EF via metacognition (MC), which forms a fundamental component of SRL, and like EF, represents higher-level cognitive processes. Therefore, this systematic review searched education and psychology databases to determine the natural development and current state of research on the three constructs. Academic transitional periods were brought into focus because of their influence on learners’ well-being and academic achievement. An evaluation of 30 publications indicated that strong development of simple EFs occurs before the transition from preschool to primary school. Moreover, there is a decrease in the motivational component of SRL and the use of metacognitive SRL strategies during the transition from primary to secondary education but an increase in metacognitive awareness. Simple as well as complex EFs also increase during this transition, with a later developmental peak for complex EF. The transition from secondary to tertiary education is accompanied by positive developments in the cognitive and metacognitive components of SRL, with small increases for simple EFs, and larger increases for complex EFs. In conclusion, the findings suggest there is an early developmental maximum for EFs compared to SRL and MC, which supports the theory that EFs are the foundation for SRL and MC.

Validating a scale to measure self-regulated learning strategies for independent listening beyond the EFL classroom

The present study aimed to validate a self-report questionnaire created and used in Yabukoshi (2023) to assess learners’ perceived use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies for practicing listening skills to improve the TOEIC® listening scores outside the classroom in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context. The instrument comprised 14 items on metacognitive SRL strategies used for out-of-class listening practice, which were divided into three subscales: strategies used in the forethought, performance, and self-reflection phases, drawing on Zimmerman's SRL model. The questionnaire was administered to 135 EFL undergraduates in Japan and subjected to a psychometric evaluation to determine its structural aspect of validity through reliability tests and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), as well as to assess its convergent and discriminant validity and its external aspect of validity (i.e., predictive validity). The instrument had sufficient internal consistency based on reliability tests (Cronbach's alpha). The CFA results indicated a relatively good and reasonable model fit, and the convergent validity was found to be adequate. The discriminant validity was not satisfactory, which was discussed based on SRL theory and previous empirical evidence. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the three strategy factors as a whole were a strong predictor of learners’ listening proficiency. The empirical evidence provides preliminary support for the application of SRL theory to the field of EFL listening. The results of this study contribute to the limited research on the assessment of SRL strategy use for listening practice outside EFL classrooms.

The Effect of Perceived Parenting Styles on Self-Regulated Learning Strategies and Motivational Beliefs

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of perceived parenting styles on self-regulated learning strategies and motivational beliefs. The participants were 350 eighth grade students in a primary school. Perceived parenting styles were determined by utilizing the Parenting Styles Scale developed by Lamborn, Mounts, Steinberg and Dornbusch (1991). The students’ self-regulated learning strategies and motivational beliefs were measured using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire developed by Pintrich and De Groot (1990). The results revealed that those dimensions of self-regulated learning related to the intrinsic value of study, self efficacy, cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning strategies were influenced by parenting styles. Students with authoritative parents were found to use more self-regulated learning strategies than those with authoritarian, indulgent and neglectful parents. However, the students with indulgent parents were found to use more cognitive and metacognitive strategies than those with authoritarian and neglectful parents. This study also indicated that the self-efficacy of students with authoritative parents is higher than that found among the students with indulgent, authoritarian and neglectful parents; and they experience less test anxiety than do the students with authoritarian parents.

Self-Regulatory Metacognitive Skill Use in Elementary Students During Computer and Paper Reading Assignments: A Qualitative Study

Self-regulated learning (SRL) and metacognitive processes are important in education because they contribute to effective learning and improved academic performance. Metacognitive SRL may be facilitated by the implementation of computer technology. This qualitative study examined the presence and use of metacognitive SLR processes among elementary school students as they completed computer- and paper-based reading assignments. Students in two after-school programs were recruited from a public school district in a southeastern region of the United States (U.S.). The participants consisted of 52 elementary students in Grades 2-5. Students participated in two, counterbalanced, conditions that involved computer- and paper-based reading assignments. Observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The results indicated that students were more likely to apply metacognitive SRL skills when reading on paper than reading on a computer. Overall, students showed signs of planning more in the paper than in the computer condition but student behaviors and responses differed between grades. Monitoring practices appeared in both the computer- and the paper-based reading assignment, with monitoring connected with background knowledge in Grades 2 and 3 but reading content in Grades 4 and 5. Control processes such as retrying and representing graphically were more common in the computer- than in the paper-based reading across all grades. Students used their score in a reading assignment as an evaluation tool to assess performance in the computer- and paper-based reading condition. These findings suggest that the utilization of prior information, integration of multimedia and verbal signals, and comfort level with the reading medium all influenced students' SRL decision-making.

It's all metacognitive: The relationship between informal learning and self-regulated learning in the workplace.

Informal workplace learning accounts for a large extent of employees' learning. Informal learning activities such as reflection or keeping up-to-date resemble self-regulated learning strategies that indicate the ability to plan, monitor, and regulate one's learning. However, little is known about the relationship between informal learning behaviors and self-regulated learning strategies. Structural equation modeling with data from 248 employees revealed that the informal learning behaviors of reflection, keeping up-to-date, feedback-seeking, and knowledge-sharing are strongly related to the metacognitive self-regulated learning strategies of monitoring and regulation. However, informal learning behaviors lack the deep-processing strategies of elaboration and organization, and the resource strategies of help-seeking and effort regulation. Only innovative behavior is strongly related to effort regulation. These results suggest a potential deficit in employees' strategy use. Employees should consider further resources to increase their learning effectiveness in the workplace. The results are discussed, and practical implications are outlined.

Affective Support for Self-Regulation in Mobile-Assisted Language Learning

Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) research includes examination and development of second language learners' cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning skills, but the affective learning component of self-regulation in this context remains largely unexplored. Support for affective learning, which is defined by learners' beliefs, attitudes, and emotions, has been shown to influence learners' cognitive processes, performance, and engagement considerably, and is therefore critical to promote and foster throughout the learning process. This paper defines the importance of supporting affect in MALL, sets out a theoretical perspective on supporting affective self-regulation in MALL, and elaborates on what designers and teachers can do to facilitate affective development through the use of mobile technology, learning analytics, and artificial intelligence. It examines and further delineates the role of affective computing and the role of the teacher in fully harnessing the affective affordances of MALL.

Lessons Learned and Future Directions of MetaTutor: Leveraging Multichannel Data to Scaffold Self-Regulated Learning With an Intelligent Tutoring System.

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is critical for learning across tasks, domains, and contexts. Despite its importance, research shows that not all learners are equally skilled at accurately and dynamically monitoring and regulating their self-regulatory processes. Therefore, learning technologies, such as intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs), have been designed to measure and foster SRL. This paper presents an overview of over 10 years of research on SRL with MetaTutor, a hypermedia-based ITS designed to scaffold college students’ SRL while they learn about the human circulatory system. MetaTutor’s architecture and instructional features are designed based on models of SRL, empirical evidence on human and computerized tutoring principles of multimedia learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational systems for metacognition and SRL, and research on SRL from our team and that of other researchers. We present MetaTutor followed by a synthesis of key research findings on the effectiveness of various versions of the system (e.g., adaptive scaffolding vs. no scaffolding of self-regulatory behavior) on learning outcomes. First, we focus on findings from self-reports, learning outcomes, and multimodal data (e.g., log files, eye tracking, facial expressions of emotion, screen recordings) and their contributions to our understanding of SRL with an ITS. Second, we elaborate on the role of embedded pedagogical agents (PAs) as external regulators designed to scaffold learners’ cognitive and metacognitive SRL strategy use. Third, we highlight and elaborate on the contributions of multimodal data in measuring and understanding the role of cognitive, affective, metacognitive, and motivational (CAMM) processes. Additionally, we unpack some of the challenges these data pose for designing real-time instructional interventions that scaffold SRL. Fourth, we present existing theoretical, methodological, and analytical challenges and briefly discuss lessons learned and open challenges.

Self-regulated pedagogical guidance for out-of-class listening practice: an empirical study of Japanese EFL learners

ABSTRACT Purpose This study proposed a metacognition-inclusive self-regulated learning (SRL) approach to out-of-class listening practice and explored its impact on learners’ listening performance and their reported use of self-regulatory listening strategies. Design/methodology/approach Participants comprised 45 students learning English at a university in Japan. They were drawn from two intact classes and assigned to intervention (IG) and comparison (CG) groups. They engaged in out-of-class listening practice for eight weeks. Only the IG received instruction to employ strategies that focused on metacognitive dimension of self-regulatory listening processes. Listening performance was measured using listening tests before and after the intervention. Strategy use was assessed via a questionnaire at the beginning of the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and nine weeks after the intervention. Findings Both groups made significant gains in the listening tests, and the advantage of the IG over the CG on the listening tests was not significant. However, the IG, but not the CG, demonstrated significant changes in the reported use of strategies over time. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the intervention seemed to depend on learners’ proficiency levels. The results suggest that learners, particularly those with higher proficiency, may engage in more metacognitive SRL processes in an independent listening context through a pedagogical intervention. Originality/value This study demonstrated the efficacy of the newly introduced SRL approach to listening pedagogy, thereby contributing further insight into pedagogical approaches to cultivate self-regulated listeners in independent learning settings.

The Use of Mobile Devices in University Distance Learning

Mobile devices, primarily cell phones, smartphones, and tablet PCs, have gradually been introduced into the university campus and online education over the past few decades. Does the use of mobile devices in distance learning motivate students and affect the learning process? These are important questions that were raised more than a decade ago, but they are still unanswered. This research aims to answer these vital questions. A total of 323 valid and unduplicated responses from online students at a Midwestern university in the U.S. were used to examine the structural model, using SmartPLS v. 3.3.2. This study shows that the use of mobile devices positively affects the students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to learn, which in turn positively affects the cognitive learning process variables (student-student dialogue, student-instructor dialogue, and metacognitive self-regulated learning processes). Furthermore, the learning process variables positively affect the perceived learning outcomes.

Leveraging student-centred teaching practices by authentic simulations environment and self-regulated learning

ABSTRACT One of the required 21st-century skills necessary to cope with challenging tasks in teaching is nurturing active independent learners who can perform self-regulated learning (SRL). To support teachers in attaining and transferring their newly acquired knowledge and practices to real-time teaching in the classroom, an effective professional development programme should include authentic environments that enhance autonomous learners. We introduce a theoretical–practical model that integrates simulations with professional actors (SIM) with SRL principles (SIM–SRL). The current study aims to examine the contributions of the integrated SIM-SRL model, to leverage training with a unique simulative environment supported by metacognitive SRL questions and to nurture student-centred practices. In a quasi-experimental study, we examined the environmental effects on 113 primary school teachers by comparing three groups: SIM–SRL, SIM only, and a control exposed to a meaningful learning programme. Video-recorded lessons and self-reflections after the lesson revealed four student-centred teaching practices that support SRL: knowledge construction, metacognitive questions, think-time and collaboration. Results indicated that teachers in the SIM-SRL group had significantly higher performance scores, followed by the SIM group, which in turn outperformed the control group. Implications for professional development programmes are discussed.

How are students’ emotions related to the accuracy of cognitive and metacognitive processes during learning with an intelligent tutoring system?

The goal of this study was to investigate 65 students' evidence scores of emotions while they engaged in cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning processes as they learned about the circulatory system with MetaTutor, a hypermedia-based intelligent tutoring system. We coded for the accuracy of detecting students’ cognitive and metacognitive processes, and examined how the computed scores related to mean evidence scores of emotions and overall learning. Results indicated that mean evidence score of surprise negatively predicted the accuracy of making a metacognitive judgment, and mean evidence score of frustration positively predicted the accuracy of taking notes, a cognitive learning strategy. These results have implications for understanding the beneficial role of negative emotions during learning with advanced learning technologies. Future directions include providing students with feedback about the benefits of both positive and negative emotions during learning and how to regulate specific emotions to ensure the most effective learning experience with advanced learning technologies.

Estratégia metacognitiva de aprendizagem autorregulada, percepção docente sobre a aprendizagem e métodos educacionais em contabilidade

O objetivo geral desta investigação foi analisar a relação entre o perfil autorregulado de aprendizagem dos discentes aos métodos educacionais de ensino e a percepção docente sobre a aprendizagem no curso de Ciências Contábeis na Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB). A investigação utilizou como estratégia de pesquisa o estudo de caso único. A amostra foi composta por 202 discentes e 16 professores do Centro de Ciências Sociais e Aplicadas da instituição, que responderam aos instrumentos de pesquisa. O instrumento de levantamento de dados que foi aplicado aos discentes, sobre o uso das estratégias metacognitivas, foi proposto por Zimerman e Martinez-Ponz (1986) e o aplicado aos docentes foi proposto por Silva (2016). Para análise dos dados, identificaram-se as estratégias de aprendizagem autorregulada, através da estatística descritiva, a análise fatorial e o uso de testes paramétricos de comparação de médias (teste t); a percepção docente sobre a aprendizagem e os métodos de ensino foram alcançados pela análise descritiva dos dados. Por fim, relacionaram-se o perfil do discente quanto à utilização da estratégia metacognitiva de aprendizagem autorregulada, os métodos educacionais de ensino e a percepção docente sobre a aprendizagem. Conclui-se que o ensino tem a consecução de aproximar o conteúdo teórico com o conteúdo prático da contabilidade. Entretanto, ao serem utilizados diferentes métodos de ensino, mesclam-se métodos ativos e passivos de aprendizagem, o que pode ter contribuído no desenvolvimento de nível maior de estratégias metacognitivas de aprendizagem autorregulada. Tem-se como implicação a percepção docente sobre aprendizagem que enfatiza à formação de um profissional com concepções técnicas, o que se limita às regras e desempenho de tarefas rotineiras de contabilidade.

How Does Prior Knowledge Influence Eye Fixations and Sequences of Cognitive and Metacognitive SRL Processes during Learning with an Intelligent Tutoring System?

The goal of this study was to use eye-tracking and log-file data to investigate the impact of prior knowledge on college students’ (N = 194, with a subset of n = 30 for eye tracking and sequence mining analyses) fixations on (i.e., looking at) self-regulated learning-related areas of interest (i.e., specific locations on the interface) and on the sequences of engaging in cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning processes during learning with MetaTutor, an Intelligent Tutoring System that teaches students about the human circulatory system. Results revealed that there were no significant differences in fixations on single areas of interest by the prior knowledge group students were assigned to; however there were significant differences in fixations on pairs of areas of interest, as evidenced by eye-tracking data. Furthermore, there were significant differences in sequential patterns of engaging in cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning processes by students’ prior knowledge group, as evidenced from log-file data. Specifically, students with high prior knowledge engaged in processes containing cognitive strategies and metacognitive strategies whereas students with low prior knowledge did not. These results have implications for designing adaptive intelligent tutoring systems that provide individualized scaffolding and feedback based on individual differences, such as levels of prior knowledge.

Can the use of cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning strategies be predicted by learners’ levels of prior knowledge in hypermedia-learning environments?

Research on self-regulated learning (SRL) in hypermedia-learning environments is a growing area of interest, and prior knowledge can influence how students interact with these systems. One hundred twelve (N=112) undergraduate students’ interactions with MetaTutor, a multi-agent, hypermedia-based learning environment, were investigated, including how prior knowledge affected their use of SRL strategies. We expected that students with high prior knowledge would engage in significantly more cognitive and metacognitive SRL strategies, engage in different sequences of SRL strategies, spend more time engaging in SRL processes, and visit more pages that were relevant to their sub-goals than students with low prior knowledge. Results showed significant differences in the total use of SRL strategies between prior knowledge groups, and more specifically, revealed significant differences in the use of each metacognitive strategy (e.g., judgment of learning), but not each cognitive strategy (e.g., taking notes) between prior knowledge groups. Results also revealed different sequences of use of SRL strategies between prior knowledge groups, and that students spent different amounts of time engaging in SRL processes; however, all students visited similar numbers of relevant pages. These results have important implications on designing multi-agent, hypermedia environments; we can design pedagogical agents that adapt to students’ learning needs, based on their prior knowledge levels.

Note-taking within MetaTutor: interactions between an intelligent tutoring system and prior knowledge on note-taking and learning

Hypermedia learning environments (HLE) unevenly present new challenges and opportunities to learning processes and outcomes depending on learner characteristics and instructional supports. In this experimental study, we examined how one such HLE—MetaTutor, an intelligent, multi-agent tutoring system designed to scaffold cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning (SRL) processes—interacts with learner’s prior domain knowledge to affect their note-taking activities and subsequent learning outcomes. Sixty (N = 60) college students studied with MetaTutor for 120 min and took notes on hypermedia content of the human circulatory system. Log-files and screen recordings of learner-system interactions were used to analyze notes for several quantitative and qualitative variables. Results show that most note-taking was a verbatim copy of instructional content, which negatively related to the post-test measure of learning. There was an interaction between prior knowledge and pedagogical agent scaffolding, such that low prior knowledge students took a greater quantity of notes compared to their high prior knowledge counterparts, but only in the absence of MetaTutor SRL scaffolding; when agent SRL scaffolding was present, the note-taking activities of low prior knowledge students were statistically equivalent to the number of notes taken by their high prior knowledge counterparts. Theoretical and instructional design implications are discussed.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-EFFICACY, SELF-REGULATED LEARNING STRATEGIES AND ACHIEVEMENT: A PATH MODEL

This structural equation modeling study aimed to investigate both direct and indirect relationships among self-efficacy for learning and performance, cognitive self-regulated learning strategies (CSR), metacognitive self-regulated learning strategies (MSR), time and study environmental management strategies (TSEM), effort regulation strategies and biology achievement of Turkish high schools students. Results of a path analysis showed that students who have high self-efficacy, MSR, TSEM and organizational strategies to complete a task in the face of difficulties can become successful in biology. Also, the findings were found that higher levels of self-efficacy directly associated with CSR, MSR, TSEM and effort regulation strategies. Moreover, mediator analyses explained several mediator effects between these variables that are discussed with the importance of motivational and learning strategies in achievement. Key words: biology achievement, resource management strategies, self-efficacy, self-regulated learning strategies.

Metacognitive Learning Environment: a semantic perspective

In the last years, Knowledge Technologies have been exploited to realize innovative and challenging self-regulation scenarios in e-learning systems. The learning environments as metacognitive artifact suitably scaffolding learners to improve their self regulated abilities, is still lacking though. In this work, we propose an innovative Web-based educational environment that sustains metacognitive self-regulated learning processes by means of Semantic Web and Social Web methods and technologies.