Self-regulated Learning
Today, people change jobs an average of seven times before they retire. Many of these career changes require new learning that must be self-initiated and self-directed. Thus, one goal of teaching is to free students from the need for teachers, so they can continue to learn independently throughout their lives. That is, to make them self-regulated learners. Self-regulated learners have a combination of academic learning skills and self-control that makes learning easier.
What influences self-regulated learning?
Knowledge, motivation and will-power combine to influence self-regulated learning.
First of all, self-regulated learners have knowledge about themselves. For example, they know their preferred learning styles; what their interests and talents are: and how to take advantage of their strengths. These experts also know quite a bit about the subject being studied-and the more they know, the easier it is to learn more. They understand different learning tasks require different approaches. Further, they have mastered adequate learning strategies and tactics. For example, they know how and when to skim and how and when to read for deep understanding.
Self-regulated learners are motivated by learning itself. They find many tasks in school interesting because they value learning, not just performing well in the eyes of others. However, knowledge and motivation are not always enough. Self-regulated learners need will-power. They wonˈt give up easily. They know how to protect themselves from distractions—for example, what to do when attracted to stop working and have a cup of coffee.
A model of self-regulated learning.
Phi Winne and Allyson Hadwin put forward a 4-stage model.
1) Analyzing the learning task. Learners examine whatever information they think is relevant in order to construct a sense of what the task is about, what resources are available, and how they feel about the work to be done.
2)Setting goals and devising plans. What goals for studying might you set for a quiz covering only one chapter that counts just 3% toward your grade? Would your goals change if the test covered the last six chapters and counted 30% toward your course grade? Your goal in turn affects the shape of your plans for how to study. Is cramming(突击学习) the best approach? Is it a better plan to study a half-hour each day?
3)Enacting tactics and strategies to accomplish the task. Learners put their tactics and strategies into practice and monitor how well the plan is working. Are you reaching your goals? Is your progress rate fast enough to be prepared for the test?
4)Regulating learning. Learners have to decide whether changes are needed in any of the three preceding stages. For example, if learning is slow：Do you need to review some prior material that provides foundations for the content you are now studying?
Teaching toward self-regulated learning.
To develop studentsˈ self-regulated learning ability, teachers should let students take an active part in finishing complex meaningful tasks; give them control over their learning processes and products; involve students in setting criteria for evaluating their learning processes and products, then give them opportunities to make judgments about their progress using those standards.
Title: Self-regulated Learning
Passage outline |
Supporting details |
(71)____________ to the topic |
◇One goal of teaching is to educate students to (72)_________ on themselves for lifelong learning. ◇Self-regulated learners (73)______ academic learning skills with self-control. |
Factors (74)___________ self-regulated learning |
◇Self-regulated learners know about themselves and subjects, understand different (75)______ to learning tasks and master necessary strategies and tactics. ◇Self-regulated learners have strong motivation to learn. ◇Self-regulated learners have great will-power to focus their (76)_______ on the learning tasks. |
Four stages of self-regulated learning |
◇Learners examine relevant information to further understand the task, available resources and their feeling about the work. ◇Learners should base your goal on the learning task and shape their learning plan accordingly. ◇Learners (77)__________ tactics and strategies to the task and monitor learning process. ◇Learners decide (78)___________ to make any change in the previous three stages. |
Ways to develop studentsˈ self-regulated learning ability |
◇Let students participate (79)__________ in complex meaningful tasks. ◇Give students control over their learning processes and products. ◇Get students(80)_________ in setting criteria and make judgments. |