Self-regulated Learning Theory Research Articles

Protocol for a scoping review study on learning plan use in undergraduate medical education

BackgroundThe current paradigm of competency-based medical education and learner-centredness requires learners to take an active role in their training. However, deliberate and planned continual assessment and performance improvement is hindered by the fragmented nature of many medical training programs. Attempts to bridge this continuity gap between supervision and feedback through learner handover have been controversial. Learning plans are an alternate educational tool that helps trainees identify their learning needs and facilitate longitudinal assessment by providing supervisors with a roadmap of their goals. Informed by self-regulated learning theory, learning plans may be the answer to track trainees’ progress along their learning trajectory. The purpose of this study is to summarise the literature regarding learning plan use specifically in undergraduate medical education and explore the student’s role in all stages of learning plan development and implementation.MethodsFollowing Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, a scoping review will be conducted to explore the use of learning plans in undergraduate medical education. Literature searches will be conducted using multiple databases by a librarian with expertise in scoping reviews. Through an iterative process, inclusion and exclusion criteria will be developed and a data extraction form refined. Data will be analysed using quantitative and qualitative content analyses.DiscussionBy summarising the literature on learning plan use in undergraduate medical education, this study aims to better understand how to support self-regulated learning in undergraduate medical education. The results from this project will inform future scholarly work in competency-based medical education at the undergraduate level and have implications for improving feedback and supporting learners at all levels of competence.Scoping review registration:Open Science Framework osf.io/wvzbx.

Assessing metacognitive writing strategies and the predictive effects on multimedia writing

ABSTRACT This study examined the predictive effects of metacognitive writing strategies on writing performance in a multimedia environment. Responses from 957 undergraduate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Chinese students to a new instrument designed to measure metacognitive writing strategies for self-regulated learning were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. Results validated an 11-factor correlated model of metacognitive writing strategies for self-regulated learning. Based on multiple regression analysis, 8 of the 11 metacognitive writing strategies significantly predicted learners’ multimedia writing performance. This study supports the application of self-regulated learning theory in educational psychology to applied linguistics, particularly to EFL writing research in multimedia environments. These findings highlight the roles of metacognitive writing strategies on university EFL learners’ multimedia writing performance

Student-teachers’ Emotion Regulation in Speaking

Several scholars in education have asserted that emotions play a significant role in motivation to learn. On the side of self-regulated learning theory, it is believed that a learner would succeed more if he owned fully constructed self-regulation in learning. This research aims to describe the student-teachers’ academic emotions, specifically in speaking, and later to elaborate on their tendency to regulate it. The researcher applied mixed methods in this study. The data was obtained through questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Supporting theory used to gain the description of the student-teacher state of academic emotion is the theory proposed by Pekrun et al. (2002). The result showed that the student-teachers tend to perceive negative emotions about their ability to speak. However, they managed to use a cognitive reappraisal strategy to modify their academic emotion in both stages of preparation and mastering speaking. Meanwhile, they tend to use expressive suppression to manage their academic emotion in performing speaking. Moreover, the implications and implementation of emotion regulation in the East Nusa Tenggara context as a part of the researcher’s reflection are also discussed.

Towards prescriptive analytics of self‐regulated learning strategies: A reinforcement learning approach

AbstractSelf‐regulated learning (SRL) is an essential skill to achieve one's learning goals. This is particularly true for online learning environments (OLEs) where the support system is often limited compared to a traditional classroom setting. Likewise, existing research has found that learners often struggle to adapt their behaviour to the self‐regulatory demands of OLEs. Even so, existing SRL analysis tools have limited utility for real‐time or individualised support of a learner's SRL strategy during a study session. Accordingly, we explore a reinforcement learning based approach to learning optimal SRL strategies for a specific learning task. Specifically, we utilise the sequences of SRL processes acted by 44 participants, and their assessment scores for a prescribed learning task, in a purpose‐built OLE to develop a long short‐term memory (LSTM) network based reward function. This is used to train a reinforcement learning agent to find the optimal sequence of SRL processes for the learning task. Our findings indicate that the developed agents were able to effectively select SRL processes so as to maximise a prescribed learning goal as measured by predicted assessment score and predicted knowledge gains. The contributions of this work will facilitate the development of a tool which can detect sub‐optimal SRL strategy in real‐time and enable individualised SRL focused scaffolding. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Learners often fail to adequately adapt their behavior to the self‐regulatory demands of e‐Learning environments. In order to promote effective Self‐regulated learning (SRL) capabilities, researchers and educators need tools that are able to analyze and diagnose a learner's SRL strategy use. Current methods for SRL analysis are more often descriptive as opposed to prescriptive and have limited utility for real‐time analysis or support of a learner's SRL behavior. What this paper adds This paper proposes the use of Reinforcement Learning for prescriptive analytics of SRL. We train a Reinforcement Learning agent on sequences of SRL processes acted by learners in order to learn the optimal SRL strategy for a given learning task. Implications for practice and/or policy Our work will facilitate the development of a tool which can detect sub‐optimal SRL strategy in real‐time and enable individualized SRL focused scaffolding. The implications of our work can aid in course design by predicting the self‐regulatory load imposed by a given task. The ability to model SRL strategies using Reinforcement Learning can be extended to simulate or test SRL theories.

Assessing the relationship between self-regulated strategies in digital writing and L2 grit for EFL learners

The development of digital tools has been reshaping students’ writing experiences in their second language (L2). However, writing can be a challenging task for English as foreign language (EFL) learners and more study needs to investigate how this highly effort-demanding experience is related to their grit. This study investigates the relationship between self-regulated strategies in digital writing and L2 grit for EFL learners. A total of 128 undergraduate students from China participated in this study. Drawing on the self-regulated learning theory with data from Writing Strategies for Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaires, stimulated recall methods, and semi-structured interviews (n=8), this study revealed that one aspect of grit, perseverance of effort, was a positive predicator for self-regulated writing strategies. Moreover, students perceived this relation while also noted other influencers (e.g., demands for high scores). Pedagogical implications regarding L2 writing in this digital age will be discussed.

Scaffolding Self-Regulated Learning in Operative Dentistry Through Self-Assessment Training.

This study aimed to investigate how effective self-assessment training is in improving the self-regulated learning (SRL) ability of operative dentistry students. The secondary aim was to explore students' attitudes towards self-assessment in clinical settings. Self-assessment has been the focus of dental education research for decades and has been claimed to be cornerstone in the SRL process. This is quasi-experimental study conducted at Damascus University Faculty of Dental Medicine, Syria. A modified direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) assessment protocol with a self-assessment component was applied to a convenience sample of students across five clinical encounters in 2022. Data were collected during clinical training on the DOPS form and at the end of the experiment using a structured questionnaire with a single open-ended question. The qualitative part of the study followed a deductive theory-informed content analysis approach, relying on Zimmerman SRL theory. A total number of 32 students participated in the study, eight of whom were male. During the experiment assessment, participants showed overwhelming positive attitudes towards the utility of self-assessment (m ≥ 3.5; max:4) and the overall assessment method (3.3 ≥ m ≥ 3.5; max:4). Cronbach's alpha for the post-experiment questionnaire was 0.888. A total of 84.4% of the participants strongly agreed that self-assessment is useful in clinical training. Data collected (qualitative and quantitative) from participants revealed the positive effects of self-assessment on all three phases of SRL, especially the reflection phase. Self-assessment practice and training showed positive results in terms of improving SRL and performance in a clinical context; SRL appeared to be affected by self-assessment in all phases (forethought, performance, and reflection). Participants' perceptions of self-assessment were generally very positive. These findings imply the potential benefits of applying self-assessment training interventions to foster the SRL ability of learners within the clinical context.

Turkish EFL Teachers’ Self Efficacy Levels in the Implementation of Self-Regulated Learning

Despite the availability of resources and efforts, English as a foreign language (EFL) learners and EFL teachers face challenges in achieving proficiency in the target language in Turkey. Self-regulation, a cognitive and motivational trait, is crucial in foreign language learning. Self-regulated learning (SRL) focuses on learners taking responsibility for their entire learning process, enabling them to engage in metacognitive processes. It has gained significant attention in recent years due to the rise of autonomous learning practices and the importance of management skills in EFL education. Teachers can enhance their awareness and oversight of their students' progress towards their objectives through the use of metacognitive skills. However, there is a lack of focus on teachers' self-efficacy levels in adopting SRL in language education. This research aimed to investigate if Turkish EFL teachers actively encourage SRL in their instruction, focusing on their roles in implementing SRL theory. The causal-comparative model was utilized in the course of this study. A sample of 211 EFL instructors from high schools in an eastern city in Turkey, was investigated. An instrument titled "Teacher Self-Efficacy for Implementing Self-Regulated Learning" was utilized to gather the data. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA analysis were used to analyze the research data. Findings suggested that the average level of self-efficacy among Turkish EFL teachers in utilizing SRL strategies to engage students is moderate. The results of the study are of great implications for the role of educators in promoting students' autonomy and lifelong learning.

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.

Self-regulation of resources in higher education

Abstract: Resource-management learning strategies are particularly important for performance in higher education. Despite this consideration, the current state of research still lacks evidence on the precise interplay of the different learning process components that affect academic performance. The aim of the present study was to test a mediation model derived from process theories of self-regulated learning, in which students' knowledge about resource-management strategies impacts their academic performance via its behavioural manifestations. N = 106 university students took part in an online course over the period of one semester. Students' resource-management strategy knowledge was assessed at the beginning of the semester, and their use of resource-management strategies was observed via log data of their learning behaviour during the semester while learning through the online course. Academic performance was assessed on the basis of an exam at the end of the semester. The mediation model was tested for three different resource-management strategies: time management, effort regulation, and help seeking. There was a significant indirect effect of strategy knowledge via strategy use on academic performance for all learning strategies considered. We conclude that students' strategic learning behaviour is an indispensable link in the relationship between their strategy knowledge and academic performance, and discuss implications for research and training practice.

A local study of Swedish university students’ perceptions of study strategies before and during the pandemic: A phenomenographical approach

The present study targets students' perceptions of study strategies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic's transition to full distance education at a small Swedish university, with the purpose to study how students perceive and form their study strategies. Our inquiries targeted study strategies including various learning strategies such as surface-learning, deep-learning and long-term goal-oriented strategies. Theories of study strategies and self-regulated learning guided our analyses of 15 in-depth interviews with students from different programs, including students with varied experiences of academia. To analyze the dimensions of the phenomenon study strategies, phenomenography was used to explore students' perceptions of their study strategies and conceptualizations of themselves as learners. Students' perceptions of study strategies fell into different categories including also self-perception and goal orientation. We conclude that the pandemic amplified differences between students with deep-learning strategies and satisfactory results and students without distinct study strategies, mainly surface-learning strategies. Students who already before the pandemic applied self-regulated learning, developed their study strategies further during the pandemic experiencing more control, whereas struggling students experienced increased helplessness during full distance education. We call for teachers' increased attention to study strategies in planning and conducting courses, to equalize conditions for groups of diverse students.

英语写作教学中多元反馈方式的研究综述及教学启示

Amid the ongoing new curriculum reform in China and the evolving landscape of English writing evaluation methods and teaching philosophies, the feedback approach for writing is undergoing continuous refinement, moving towards a multi-feedback model. This paper, drawing from the principles of social cognitive theory, dynamic assessment theory, and self-regulated learning theory, delves into the relevant literature concerning multi-feedback modes in English writing instruction. It examines the practical significance of employing multi-feedback techniques and offers fresh insights into their application in English writing education. Educators are encouraged to experiment with diverse approaches to English writing feedback, empowering students to take a leading role in the process, and fostering the development of students' core literacy skills.

Role of Theory in Analysing the dynamic of Self-regulated Learning process based on students’ event logs data: A scoping review

Students' capability to metacognitively regulate themselves—cognitively or behaviourally—in their learning plays a pivotal role in determining their academic performance. The dynamic aspect of Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) will be challenging to capture if it relies on perceptual data obtained from students through questionnaires and interviews and only at specific points in time. One potential alternative is to use an approach that captures student activity data in real-time throughout the learning period. Given the context-sensitivity involved in measuring SRL via event data, a solid theoretical foundation is essential in analysing patterns of SRL behaviour using event log data. This scoping review paper aims to identify and map how the empirical studies in this area consider SRL theory or models, not only when interpreting analytical results but also when designing instruction and interpreting SRL indicators from raw data. A thorough literature search was performed on various online databases, including Scopus, IEEExplorer, ProQuest, and Web of Science, to identify relevant studies. Following the PRISMA scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) as a protocol for the review, 39 studies published between 2012 and 2023 were included. This study found limited studies incorporating SRL theory in every analysis stage, from designing instruction to preprocessing event data and interpreting analytical models. This study also highlighted the importance of including contextual and theoretical factors when assessing self-regulatory behavioural patterns.

Text-to-Speech Software and Reading Comprehension: The Impact for Students with Learning Disabilities

This literature review examines the use of text-to-speech (TTS) software as an accommodation for students with learning disabilities and its impact on improving reading comprehension. As the development and availability of TTS tools and assistive technologies have increased over the past decade, it is significant to explore how they are used to accommodate students at all levels of education to promote a universal design of learning. Based on a review of the current literature and utilizing self-regulated learning theory as a framework, four significant themes have emerged: (a) TTS being seen as a compensatory tool; (b) improving reading abilities and comprehension; (c) increasing student motivation and self-efficacy; and (d) the need for training for students, educators, and parents. Findings of this literature review revealed that overall, TTS software is commonly used as a compensatory tool (mainly at the postsecondary level), has assisted in students improving reading speed, fluency, and content retention, resulted in increased student self-efficacy in reading abilities and independent learning, and that there is a significant need to allocate training and technological resources to support students. As there are various directions for future research, exploring this area can contribute to schools promoting inclusive and accommodating learning environments.

Self-regulated Learning Theory in Metacognitive-Based Teaching and Learning of High-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

Along with the need for global competence, the aspect of high-level thinking skills that is widely emphasized nowadays has demanded students to be intelligent individuals who apply the ability of learning skills through their own determination by implementing effective learning methods through self-regulated learning. However, the study found that in the teaching and learning of high-level thinking skills, the approach in learning self-regulation is less applied. Thus, this concept paper aims to discuss the application of self-regulation learning theory in teaching and learning metacognitive-based high-level thinking skills. This study uses an analytical approach to the literature review in discussing the relationship between learning self-regulation, metacognition and high-level thinking skills, the definition and concept of self-regulation learning, self-learning theory and the importance of self-regulation learning in teaching and learning metacognitive-based high-level thinking skills. Self-regulated learning theory suggests that teachers can use metacognitive elements in self-regulated learning to improve students' cognitive abilities and improve pedagogical knowledge and teaching efficiency. Through the application of this theory, it gives implications to the teaching and learning practices of teachers and students in improving students' thinking skills based on metacognition.

Development and validation of the Workplace Learning Inventory in Health Sciences Education: a multimethod study.

Health sciences students face many challenges in regard to clinical practical learning. A better understanding of student learning is required to address student needs in this crucial phase. The theory of self-regulated learning provides a comprehensive view of learning and could serve as a basis for further research. There are instruments to assess self-regulated learning in preclinical academic learning. However, there are no such instruments for workplace learning. The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive inventory from which researchers can select those scales that are relevant to their research questions in the investigation of workplace learning. Hence, the aim is to develop and validate a set of scales to assess undergraduates' workplace learning in health sciences education in four areas (cognition, motivation, emotion, and context) on two levels (the learning process level and the metalevel). Study 1 is a qualitative multimethod study to identify indicators and develop items. It integrates the perspectives of students, teachers, and researchers and includes six steps: literature review, interviews, synthesis, item development, expert review, and cognitive pretesting. This study yields a set of scales for each area on both levels. Study 2 is a quantitative study to assess the psychometric properties. The results show acceptable values in terms of unidimensionality, reliability and validity for each of the 31 scales. The newly developed Workplace Learning Inventory is comprehensive; the scales are relevant to workplace learning and short enough that their administration is feasible in the workplace setting. The rigorous process of questionnaire development contributes to the validity of scales. By providing the Workplace Learning Inventory, we hope to encourage research on workplace learning in health sciences education from an educational psychology perspective.

Students’ Voices: A Qualitative Study on Contextual, Motivational, and Self-Regulatory Factors Underpinning Language Achievement

A lack of qualitative studies examining adolescent students’ voices regarding the contextual, relational, and self-regulatory factors that drive their language achievement has been observed. Therefore, the present study aimed to address this issue. Sixteen face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with secondary school students in Greece to document and analyse their perceptions of the factors that influence language achievement. The study was guided by social-cognitive theory and models of self-regulated learning. Computer-assisted thematic analysis was performed using abductive open coding followed by refinement of codes. Three overarching global themes were identified in line with theoretical expectations, namely personal factors (motivation and self-regulatory strategies), relational factors (teachers’ practices, parental achievement expectations, peer influences), and structural factors (the educational system). Afterwards, an abductive thematic network analysis was conducted to explore and theorise about potential relationships between the emergent themes in the data. It was found that parental expectations for higher performance and the teachers’ behaviours were associated with students’ language achievement. Task-related characteristics and peers influenced students’ regulation of effort in learning. The students believed that they were not objectively graded and frequent summative assessments created test anxiety. The findings are discussed in light of existing empirical evidence and in terms of educational implications.

Self-regulated Learning and Second Language Writing: Fostering Strategic Language Learners (Book Review)

Over the past 40 years, experts in the field of educational psychology have conducted extensive research on self-regulated learning (SRL) as a learning theory. The theory of SRL refers to a learner’s ability to understand and control their learning environment through goal setting, self-monitoring, self-instruction, and self-reinforcement in order to succeed in their studies (Schraw et al., 2006). Teachers who understand the application of self-regulated learning strategies may help their students gain important insight for transferring knowledge, skills, and abilities from one field to another. Furthermore, it helps the students prepare for lifelong learning and become autonomous learners. In her recent book Self-regulated Learning and Second Language Writing: Fostering Strategic Language Learners, Lin Sophie Teng explains the principles of using SRL theory in language learning, specifically through the application of SRL to students in a second language (L2) writing class. The book offers valuable knowledge for teachers to understand how to foster integrated strategies of SRL and language learning strategies in all of their students to succeed in language learning. [First paragraph]

Activating accounting students’ decision-making skills through a reflective self-assessment workshop on learning styles

Given the impact of technological advances on the work environment of accountants, stakeholders are increasingly emphasising that accounting education should develop the decision-making skills of students. While thinking critically, globally and intuitively comes naturally to some accounting students, many others prefer sensing and sequential learning styles (ways of thinking and processing information). Students need to be aware of their dominant learning styles to enable self-regulation and ensure that they develop the necessary decision-making skills to be successful in diverse subjects, topics and types of assessments, as well as in their future careers. This action research study documents the development and implementation of a reflective self-assessment workshop on learning styles for accounting students in South Africa. The workshop, which was informed by the theory of metacognition and self-regulated learning, increased students’ self-awareness regarding their dominant learning styles (the majority favoured a sequential learning style over a global one) and facilitated a metacognitive process whereby students could identify learning strategy deficiencies and plan remedial actions. Feedback revealed that students felt more prepared for their studies after the workshop. The guidelines for adaptive strategies per learning style developed during this study could also help accounting students strengthen their decision-making skills.

The Development and Validation of the Questionnaire to Characterize Learning Strategies in Computer Programming (CEAPC)

This article presents the design, construct validation, and reliability of a self-report instrument in Spanish that aims to characterize different types of strategies that students can use to learn computer programming. We provide a comprehensive overview of the identification of learning strategies in the existing literature, the design and development of preliminary questionnaire items, the refinement of item wording, and the examination of the internal structure and reliability of the final instrument. The construction of the items was based on the educational theory of Self-Regulated Learning. The final version of the questionnaire, called the Computer Programming Learning Strategies Questionnaire (CEAPC), was administered to 647 students enrolled in computer programming courses. The data collected from the participants were used to examine the construct validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The CEAPC consists of 13 subscales, each corresponding to a different type of learning strategy, and a total of 89 items. Statistical analyses of the data indicate that the CEAPC has adequate construct validity. In addition, the results of the internal consistency analysis indicate satisfactory reliability across the different subscales of the instrument. This study contributes to the field of educational research, particularly in the area of self-regulated learning in computer programming.

AI and self-regulated learning theory: What could be on the horizon?

AI and self-regulated learning theory: What could be on the horizon?