How to support students in self-regulating their learning process
Throughout the internet, sites with tutorials and information are freely available. If students can monitor, direct and regulate content, then self-regulated learning is possible. But how can this be encouraged and trained?
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Self-regulated learning can be achieved by everyone. This video is meant for teachers who want to teach students this learning skill.
Self-regulated learning is a skill that can’t be taken for granted. Some basic abilities like monitoring, directing and regulating are required. For extraordinary students, the strategy of self-learning is a great way to challenge themselves, if their studies aren’t hard enough for them.
Consequently, teachers need to dedicate class time for self-regulated learning to ensure that students will acquire this skill. Once a student is familiar with self-regulated learning, they are better prepared for other challenging tasks they will face. The ultimate goal is to equip students with critical skills for life-long learning, giving them the abilities to keep up in the rapidly changing world of today.
Three methods are presented for teachers to help students develop their self-regulating learning skills.
The first is based on sharing one’s thought processes and explaining to the pupils how you were able to solve certain problems.
The second way is showing that self-regulated learning makes sense and can be applied to many essential aspects of life, bringing autonomy and helping towards acquiring new skills.
The third aspect is social support and feedback. If students receive feedback from their teachers and peers regarding their self-regulated learning, it encourages them to keep learning on their own.
Questions for reflection
1. Do your students already possess skills in self-regulated learning?
2. What could the effect be if you created a focus on learning these skills?
3. When do you use these skills, and how did you acquire them?
