Supporting Self-Regulated Learning Research Articles

Teacher differences in promoting students' self-regulated learning: Exploring the role of student characteristics

Research has repeatedly illustrated the positive effects of self-regulated learning (SRL) on students' intrinsic motivation and academic performance. Teachers are crucial actors in providing all students with equal opportunities to develop SRL skills. However, various factors, such as student characteristics, may affect teachers' support of students' SRL. This study examined primary school teachers' (N=127) perceptions regarding the role of student characteristics in their promotion of SRL. It was found that while teachers recounted experiencing the influence of multiple student characteristics, teachers differed in their instructional responses. Subsequently, the results suggested that teacher beliefs, knowledge of SRL, and attributional styles mediate the potential association of student characteristics alongside teachers' SRL support. The study concludes by acknowledging the role of student characteristics in understanding teachers' varying levels of SRL promotion. In addition, teachers' susceptibility and response to diverse student characteristics may overshadow actual student SRL needs, limiting student growth opportunities.

Motivation to learn: an overview of contemporary theories.

ObjectiveTo succinctly summarise five contemporary theories about motivation to learn, articulate key intersections and distinctions among these theories, and identify important considerations for future research.ResultsMotivation has been defined as the process whereby goal‐directed activities are initiated and sustained. In expectancy‐value theory, motivation is a function of the expectation of success and perceived value. Attribution theory focuses on the causal attributions learners create to explain the results of an activity, and classifies these in terms of their locus, stability and controllability. Social‐ cognitive theory emphasises self‐efficacy as the primary driver of motivated action, and also identifies cues that influence future self‐efficacy and support self‐regulated learning. Goal orientation theory suggests that learners tend to engage in tasks with concerns about mastering the content (mastery goal, arising from a ‘growth’ mindset regarding intelligence and learning) or about doing better than others or avoiding failure (performance goals, arising from a ‘fixed’ mindset). Finally, self‐determination theory proposes that optimal performance results from actions motivated by intrinsic interests or by extrinsic values that have become integrated and internalised. Satisfying basic psychosocial needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness promotes such motivation. Looking across all five theories, we note recurrent themes of competence, value, attributions, and interactions between individuals and the learning context.ConclusionsTo avoid conceptual confusion, and perhaps more importantly to maximise the theory‐building potential of their work, researchers must be careful (and precise) in how they define, operationalise and measure different motivational constructs. We suggest that motivation research continue to build theory and extend it to health professions domains, identify key outcomes and outcome measures, and test practical educational applications of the principles thus derived.

VENTAJAS DE LA UTILIZACIÓN DE LOS ENTORNOS VIRTUALES DE APRENDIZAJE DESDE LA PERSPECTIVA DEL ALUMNADO Y FAMILIAS

Abstract:ADVANTAGES OF USING VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OFSTUDENTS AND FAMILIESIntroduction: This study investigated the effects that the design of personal learning environments has in overcoming student´s lack of motivation. Method: The methodology used was the case study with an ethnographic orientation approach. This methodology allowed to describe the advantages of using the participants personal learning environments regarding their own learning experiences. The technique employed to conduct the study was the analysis of the content of the information that had been collected in group discussion exercises made with teachers, students and parents who got involved in the experience. Results: Using personal learning environments has advantages for student’s motivation and student´s performance. However, there are some evident problems with the implementation of the innovation process. Conclusions: This pedagogical approach represents promising advances in the integration of both formal and informal learning. Furthermore, the use of social media and the support of self-regulated learning highlight the usability of the approach.Keywords: Personal Learning Environment (PLE), Learning Community, Learner Motivation, Social Media.Resumen:Introducción: Este estudio investigó los efectos del diseño de entornos personales de aprendizaje en la superación de la desmotivación discente. Método: Con la finalidad de describir las ventajas en la utilización de los entornos personales de aprendizaje de los participantes respecto a sus propias vivencias de aprendizaje, se utiliza una metodología de estudio de caso evaluativo de orientación etnográfica y como técnica el análisis de contenido de la información recogida de los grupos de discusión con el profesorado, alumnado y padres implicados en la experiencia. Resultados: La utilización de los entornos personales de aprendizaje tiene ventajas para la motivación y el rendimiento docente del alumnado pero se evidencian algunas problemáticas en la implementación del proceso de innovación. Conclusiones: Señalan que es un enfoque pedagógico potencialmente prometedor para integrar tanto el aprendizaje formal e informal utilizando los medios sociales y el apoyo al aprendizaje autorregulado de los estudiantes y ponen de relieve su facilidad de uso.Palabras Clave: Entornos personales de aprendizaje, Comunidades de aprendizaje, Motivación discente, Medios de comunicación.

Using concept maps and goal-setting to support the development of self-regulated learning in a problem-based learning curriculum

Problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education focuses on preparing independent learners for continuing, self-directed, professional development beyond the classroom. Skills in self-regulated learning (SRL) are important for success in PBL and ongoing professional practice. However, the development of SRL skills is often left to chance. This study presents the investigated outcomes for students when support for the development of SRL was embedded in a PBL medical curriculum. This investigation involved design, delivery and testing of SRL support, embedded into the first phase of a four-year, graduate-entry MBBS degree. The intervention included concept mapping and goal-setting activities through iterative processes of planning, monitoring and reflecting on learning. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect data from seven students to develop case studies of engagement with, and outcomes from, the SRL support. The findings indicate that students who actively engaged with support for SRL demonstrated increases in cognitive and metacognitive functioning. Students also reported a greater sense of confidence in and control over their approaches to learning in PBL. This study advances understanding about how the development of SRL can be integrated into PBL.

Understanding, evaluating, and supporting self-regulated learning using learning analytics

Self-regulated learning is an ongoing process rather than a single snapshot in time. Naturally, the field of learning analytics, focusing on interactions and learning trajectories, offers exciting opportunities for analyzing and supporting self-regulated learning. This special section highlights the current state of research in the intersect of self-regulated learning and learning analytics, bridging communities, disciplines, and schools of thoughts. In this editorial, we introduce the papers and identify themes and challenges in understanding and support self-regulated learning in interactive learning environments.

The Role of Learning Approaches as Mediator between Peer Social Support and Self-Regulated Learning among Engineering Undergraduates

This study examines the relationship between peer perceived social support, learning approaches and dimensionsin self-regulated learning. This study employed a quantitative method through a survey using questionnaireswhich were distributed to a total of 93 engineering undergraduates from the Universiti Teknikal MalaysiaMelaka. The Revised Study Process Questionnaire, LASSI and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support wereused to measure students’ beliefs about self-regulatory processes, knowledge, learning approaches, andperceived social support from peers. Statistical test for mediation was conducted using a series of regressionanalyses. Results indicate that out of nine dimensions of self-regulated learning, only three dimensions i.e.information processing (r=.22, p<.05), motivation (r=.37, p<.01), and self-testing (r=.32, p<.01) that were foundto be significantly associated with only deep learning approach dimension. Peer perceived social support wasfound to be associated with students’ information processing (r=.31, p<.01) and motivation (r=.26, p<.01). Itshows that peers also have significant role in the development of students’ ability in processing the informationand promote students’ needs of achievement. Based on the findings, the following theoretical and practicalapplications are suggested in order to be applied specifically among engineering undergraduates.

A Competence-based Service for Supporting Self-Regulated Learning in Virtual Environments

This paper presents a conceptual approach and a Web-based service that aim at supporting self-regulated learning in virtual environments. The conceptual approach consists of four components: 1) a self-regulated learning model for supporting a learner-centred learning process, 2) a psychological model for facilitating competence-based personalization and knowledge assessment, 3) an open learner model approach for visual interaction and feedback, and 4) a learning analytics approach for capturing relevant learner information required by the other components. The Web-based service provides a technical implementation of the conceptual approach, as well as a linkage to existing virtual environments used for learning purposes. The approach and service have been evaluated in user studies in university courses on computer science to demonstrate the usefulness of the overall approach and to get an understanding of some limitations.

Finnish students’ reasons for their achievement in classroom activities: focus on features that support self-regulated learning

The aim of this study was to investigate how finnish students explain factors that contribute to their achievement in classroom learning activities and whether these factors are related to support of self-regulated learning (SRL) in classroom. Over seven weeks, 24 primary school students were videotaped during their typical classroom activities in 28 lessons to capture moments when they succeeded in learning tasks. From the video observations, 62 episodes were edited and used in stimulated recall interviews in which students were asked to report the reasons they related to their achievement in learning situations. Data-driven content analysis was used to analyse the open-ended interview data. The video observation data were analysed and sorted into theory-driven categories in order to find out how SRL was supported in classrooms. The results showed that students describe achievement through the actions that they took in the learning situations, such as being able accomplish the task. The reasons given for their achievement dealt with ability to accomplish the tasks or doing academic activities in order to achieve in the task. Furthermore, the students recognised classroom activities that support SRL, acknowledging their contribution to their achievement, mostly through the support that they received from their teachers and peers.

Evaluations of a Large Topic Map as a Knowledge Organization Tool for Supporting Self-Regulated Learning

A large topic map was created to facilitate understanding of the impacts of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Incident. It has a text topic map and a graphical topic map, which complement each other. A formative evaluation and two summative evaluations were conducted, as qualitative studies, to assess the usefulness and usability of the large topic maps as self-regulated learning tools. The topic maps were found useful for knowledge fusion and discovery, and can be useful when undertaking interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. Users reported some usability issues about the graphical topic map, including information overload and cluttered display of topics when displaying large number of topics and their associated topics. The text topic map was found easier to use due to displaying topics, relationships and references in a linear view.

Iterative augmentation of a medical training simulator: Effects of affective metacognitive scaffolding

Experiential training simulators are gaining increasing popularity for job-related training due to their potential to engage and motivate adult learners. They are designed to provide learning experiences that are directly connected to users' work environments and support self-regulated learning. Nevertheless, learners often fail to transfer the knowledge gained in the simulated environment to real-world contexts. The EU-funded ImREAL project aimed to bridge that gap by developing a suite of intelligent services designed to enhance existing training simulators. This paper presents work that was a subset of this research project, reporting the iterative development and evaluation of a scaffolding service, which was integrated into a simulator for training medical students to perform diagnostic interviews. The study comprises three evaluation phases, comparing the pure simulator to a first version with metacognitive scaffolding and then to a final version with affective metacognitive scaffolding and enriched user modelling. The scaffolding service provides the learner with metacognitive prompts; affective elements are realized by an integrated affect reporting tool and affective prompts. Using a mixed-method approach by analysing questionnaires (N = 106) and log-data (N = 426), the effects of the services were investigated with respect to real-world relevance, self-regulated learning support, learning experience, and integration. Despite some limitations, the outcomes of this study demonstrate the usefulness of affective metacognitive scaffolding in the context of experiential training simulators; significant post-simulation increases in perceived relevance of the simulator, reflective note-taking, overall motivation, and feeling of success could be identified. Perceived usability and flow of the simulation increased, whereas overall workload and frustration decreased. However, low response rates to specific functions of the simulation point to a need to further investigate how to raise users' awareness and understanding of the provided tools, to encourage interaction with the services, and to better convey the benefits of using them. Thus, future challenges concern not so much technological developments for personalizing learning experiences, but rather new ways to change user attitudes towards an open approach to learning systems that enables them to benefit from all offered features.

The Role of Personal Beliefs in the Evaluation of Pre-service Teachers’ Lesson Plans – A Single Case Study

Aims: This study examined the relationship between personal beliefs and views of instructional practice. Study Design: Anon-experimental quantitative mixed methods research design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Research setting at Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN, USA). Participants individually completed the study during the spring of 2012. Methodology: Thirty-three pre-service teachers completed a self-report questionnaire and thought aloud as they evaluated two lesson plans. Results: Two dimensions of epistemological beliefs significantly predicted participants’ views of constructivist teaching, R=.25, F(1,32)=4.927, p=.014. Additionally, participants’ evaluation of how a lesson plan supports self-regulated learning was significantly predicted by constructivist views, R=.14, F(1,29)=4.575, p=.04.Lastly, the evaluation of the student-centered nature of a lesson plan was significantly predicted by more traditional views, R=.14, F(1, 29)=4.575, p=.04. Conclusion: Participants with stronger constructivist views of teaching made significantly Original Research Article British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 4(6): 768-783, 2014 769 more evaluations based on the lesson plan’s support of self-regulated learning. Additionally, stronger traditional views were related to fewer evaluations on the studentcentered nature of the lesson plan. Thus, differences in lesson plan evaluations can be explained by pre-service teachers’ personal beliefs.

Supporting Self-Regulated Learning for College Students with Asperger Syndrome: Exploring the “Strategies for College Learning” Model

In this study, I piloted the feasibility, effects, and perceived acceptability of a peer mentoring intervention targeting academic achievement and self-regulated learning (SRL) for three college students with Asperger syndrome. The approach, dubbed Strategies for College Learning (SCL), features individualized assessment of academic performance in target courses and direct instruction of learning and self-regulation strategies under the provision of a peer mentor. The pilot study resulted in successful implementation of SCL and the acquisition of numerous learning strategies among participants. Qualitative data indicated participants felt SCL was both useful and acceptable. As the incidence of autism spectrum disorders increases, so has the need to accommodate students with highly individualized learning needs. The pilot is among the first to explore peer mentoring as an approach at bolstering SRL and academic achievement for college students with Asperger syndrome. The limitations of the study are discussed as well as implications for future research and practice.

Integrating Skills and Wills Instruction in Self-Regulated Science Text Reading for Secondary Students

This study investigated the effectiveness of cognitive-metacognitive versus motivational components of the IMPROVE self-regulatory model, used while reading scientific texts, for 10th graders’ scientific literacy and self-regulated learning (SRL). Three treatment groups (N = 198) received one type of self-addressable questions while reading scientific texts: cognitive-metacognitive (CogMet), motivational (Mot), or combined (CogMetMot). Control group received no self-addressed questions (noSRL). One measure assessed scientific literacy, and two measures assessed SRL: (a) as an aptitude—pre/post questionnaires assessing self-perceived SRL, and (b) as an event—audiotaping participants’ thinking-aloud SRL behaviors in real-time learning experiences and data coding illustrating SRL changes. Findings indicated that treatment groups significantly outperformed the non-treatment group. No differences emerged between CogMet and Mot, whereas fully combined SRL support (CogMetMot) was most effective. Theoretical and practical implications of this preliminary study are discussed.

Shallow strategy development in a teachable agent environment designed to support self-regulated learning

To support self-regulated learning (SRL), computer-based learning environments (CBLEs) are often designed to be open-ended and multidimensional. These systems incorporate diverse features that allow students to enact and reveal their SRL strategies via the choices they make. However, research shows that students' use of such features is limited; students often neglect SRL-supportive tools in CBLEs. In this study, we examined middle school students' feature use and strategy development over time using a teachable agent system called Betty's Brain. Students learned about climate change and thermoregulation in two units spanning several weeks. Learning was assessed using a pretest-posttest design, and students' interactions with the system were logged. Results indicated that use of SRL-supportive tools was positively correlated with learning outcomes. However, promising strategy patterns weakened over time due to shallow strategy development, which also negatively impacted the efficacy of the system. Although students seemed to acquire one beneficial strategy, they did so at the cost of other beneficial strategies. Understanding this phenomenon may be a key avenue for future research on SRL-supportive CBLEs. We consider two hypotheses for explaining and perhaps reducing shallow strategy development: a student-centered hypothesis related to ''gaming the system,'' and a design-centered hypothesis regarding how students are scaffolded via the system.

Shaping self‐regulation in science teachers' professional growth: Inquiry skills

AbstractThis study examined 188 preservice science teachers' professional growth along three dimensions—self‐regulated learning (SRL) in a science pedagogical context, pedagogical content knowledge, and self‐efficacy in teaching science—comparing four learner‐centered, active‐learning, peer‐collaborative environments for learning to teach higher order scientific‐inquiry thinking. Three environments supported different SRL components using the “IMPROVE'' self‐regulatory model: cognitive–metacognitive alone (CogMet), motivational alone (Mot), or all three components (CogMetMot). The fourth environment provided no SRL support. Findings indicated that preservice teachers in the three SRL‐scaffolding conditions outperformed their unscaffolded peers on all professional growth measures: SRL (cognition, metacognition, motivation), pedagogical knowledge (declarative, procedural, conditional), and self‐efficacy in teaching science. Moreover, the CogMetMot group exhibited the highest scores on all measures. Implications concern SRL scaffolding to enhance preservice science teachers' professional growth. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 96: 1106–1133, 2012

Developing Self-Regulation by Using Reflective Support in a Video-Digital Microteaching Environment

Recent research efforts have established that self-regulated learning (SRL) is necessary for teachers to attain successful professional development. Our study addresses two central questions: under what conditions in preservice teachers' education can SRL processes be enhanced to the optimum level, and how can we assess these processes? The participants of the study were ninety-seven preservice teachers, who were engaged in real-time teaching in a video-digital Microteaching environment. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of two groups: reflective support (RS) for SRL or no support (NS) for SRL. Participants in the RS group were explicitly exposed to SRL aspects and were directed to address these aspects in their reflective discussions of the teaching experience. The SRL process was measured as an online event during real-time teaching exercises, based on a coding scheme developed for this study to identify and assess the SRL skills by two major aspects: metacognition (planning, information management, monitoring, debugging, and evaluating) and motivation (interest and value, self-efficacy, and teaching anxiety). Results indicate that the RS group outperformed the NS group in all SRL measures. Implications for reflective support for SRL and event measures of real-time observations of preservice teachers' SRL are discussed.

Facilitating Self-Regulated Learning With Technology

The authors examined the extent to which student access to the MyGrade application in Blackboard may facilitate motivation and exam improvement via grade monitoring. In support of self-regulated learning and feedback principles, students indicated that the MyGrade application helped them better monitor their course performance and increased their motivation to study and pay attention in class. Access statistics for the MyGrade application in two undergraduate psychology courses revealed that students who viewed their grades weekly or more significantly improved their exam scores compared with those who accessed their grades less than weekly. These effects were robust when controlling for student characteristics (ability, experience, self-control) and class attendance. The authors discuss implications for the role of technology in facilitating self-regulated learning.

Supporting Self-Regulated Learning Processes in Adolescents: An Examination of Teaching Methods Used on Outdoor Adventure Expeditions

Self-regulation (SR) is essential to the healthy development of youth (Dahl, & Conway, 2009; Gestsdottir & Lerner, 2007) and is a key factor in their academic achievement, motivation, and lifelong learning (Dignath, Buettner & Langfeldt, 2008). Self-regulated learners are those individuals who intentionally and adaptively direct their emotions, cognitions, and behaviors, by planning, monitoring, and evaluating their efforts to reach self-determined goals. Self-regulation presents a substantial challenge for many adolescents, as they are experiencing significant changes in their neural and cognitive development that affect how SR strategies are processed and employed (Steinberg, 2005). As a result, many adolescents choose maladaptive SR strategies resulting in decreased learning motivation (Cleary, Zimmerman, & Keating 2006).

Supporting self-regulated hypermedia learning through prompts

The aim of this research was to develop and evaluate tools and supports for self-regulated learning with hypertext information structures, such as Web pages. Two kinds of supports for self-regulated learning were developed and tested experimentally: Prompting and Prompting with Training. In Experiment 1, Prompting was tested with a pre-post-test between subject design, including thinking-aloud data. Students of the experimental group (n = 20) were prompted for self-regulation activities that had to be followed while learning basic learning theory. No self-regulation support was offered in the control group (n = 20). In Experiment 2 (Prompting with Training), the experimental group (n = 20) received a short training, in addition to the prompting: the self-regulated learning activities were explained in detail, demonstrated and practiced right before the learning session. Again, no self-regulation support was offered in the control group (n = 20). Analyses of learning processes and learning outcomes confirm partly the positive effects of both measures of self-regulated learning prompts. The more extended measure (with training) had superior effects on students’ learning transfer performance and acceptance. Implications for the design of instructional support to improve self-regulated learning with computer-based learning environments are discussed.

Supporting self-regulated learning in university education

Supporting self-regulated learning in university education