Self-regulatory learning: why is it important?

Self-regulatory learning: why is it important?
Changes in teacher-regulated teaching have increased the importance of self-regulated learning among students of all ages. Read more about it here!
Self-regulated learning is closely related to the way people regulate their emotions, thoughts, behaviors and environmental aspects during the learning process. In addition, we know that it is important to be able to control your mind when it comes to the learning process. The sooner you learn to do it, the more successful and satisfying the experience will be.



There are many self-regulating abilities. Some of them are good time scheduling, the ability to choose the best problem solving methods, and the ability to actively control emotional states such as frustration.

"Learning is about one's relationship with oneself and one's ability to exert effort, self-control and the necessary critical self-evaluation to achieve the best possible results."

-Linda B. Nilson-

Definition of self-regulated learning
Barry Zimmerman is one of the most important researchers in the field of self-regulated learning. He emphasizes that self-regulation is not a mental or academic performance. Rather, it is a self-managing process through which students can turn their mental abilities into academic ones.

self-regulated learning
According to Zimmerman, self-regulated learning not only involves achieving detailed knowledge of an ability, but also other abilities such as self-awareness, self-motivation, and the ability to behave in a way that makes it possible to apply what you have learned appropriately.

Beginner students appreciate themselves by comparing themselves with others and receiving feedback from them. They also often blame failures on deficiencies they have no control over. On the other hand, more experienced students who can regulate their own learning accept the fact that they have failed when it occurs. Instead of blaming their mistake, they focus on fixing their weak points.

If we see it from a different point of view, it is not that self-regulation is something that some students have and others do not. According to Zimmerman, self-regulation consists of applying specific processes selectively to each learning task. These must be selected based on personal characteristics. That is why it is best to talk about self-regulation in the context of learning or some specific type of learning.

Self-regulated learning involves the establishment of goals and then choosing the right strategies to achieve them. Once selected, the process must be monitored, and if the targets are not met, the techniques must be restructured.

You also need to use your available time effectively, evaluate the methods you have chosen, and adapt your methods to future learning. Of course, you should always apply the new one you have learned on future endeavors.

Self-regulated learning abilities
Self-regulated learning abilities are fundamental to learning. Nevertheless, it is unusual for trainers to teach them specifically. That is why many students ultimately lack independence, motivation, perseverance and a positive sense of well-being during their studies.

In order for the trainers to be able to transfer these abilities effectively to their students, it is important for them that they are intimately familiar with the most important mechanisms in self-regulation.

Students go through three main steps when regulating their own learning: planning, execution and reflection. These stages do not necessarily follow each other. The students can go through several different cycles during the course of a learning task..
During the planning phase, the students establish their goals and standards. They should be able to meet these downfall of a specific task, passport or course. This stage involves the student's understanding of the learning environment.
During the execution phase, the students show their commitment to the learning experience. At this time, they monitor their own learning. They can compare their progress with the standards they established in the planning phase.
During the reflection stage, the student thinks about and evaluates his learning experience. This includes reflecting on the feedback and mentally gathering ideas and concepts for future learning.
Trainers and self-regulated learning
Because of the importance of self-regulatory learning, it is essential that teachers explicitly teach these abilities. They also need to offer strategies to help students apply them during the learning process. This learning process includes:

Explaining the usefulness and importance of self-regulated learning abilities.
Expressly teach self-regulating learning techniques.
Help students identify when and how they can use these self-regulated learning abilities.
A study made in 2012 by Dignath-van Ewijk and Van der Werf who focused on teachers' self-regulated learning perceptions showed that the teachers believed in teaching these abilities to their students. The result of the study highlighted how teacher education would give them the ability and knowledge to promote self-regulated learning effectively.

We should develop strategies for trainers to be able to teach self-regulated learning techniques to students. This would include tools, resources and strategies that they can use in the classroom.