{"id":32926,"date":"2021-04-26T23:03:14","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T22:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/?p=32926"},"modified":"2023-04-11T16:27:13","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T15:27:13","slug":"self-regulated-learning-being-aware-of-how-you-learn-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2021\/04\/26\/self-regulated-learning-being-aware-of-how-you-learn-best\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Regulated Learning – Being Aware of How You Learn Best"},"content":{"rendered":"

Self-Regulation<\/h3>\n

Self-regulation<\/em> means the ability to \u2018regulate yourself\u2019; to appropriately<\/em> monitor your thoughts, control your reactions and respond appropriately to your environment. Ideally, your end goal is the best possible ethical long-term outcome for yourself in the related area, (be that emotional wellbeing or academic learning, for example). For children and young people, this might include them learning how to adapt their behaviour to changing circumstances, manage their emotions, maintain appropriate energy levels, control their physical movements or take on board a teacher\u2019s constructive criticism.<\/p>\n

A key point is that to successfully self-regulate you need to be self<\/em>-aware; watching and making adjustments to reach your own<\/em> successes. A student who makes changes saying \u201cI\u2019m doing it because my parents want me to\u201d or \u201cthe teacher said so\u201d would not be exercising autonomy in their learning strategies. Although sometimes temporarily beneficial, these are examples of responding to external regulation<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Self-Regulation in Learning<\/h3>\n

Self-regulation in learning means planning, monitoring and directing your own learning. In other words, can your high potential learner map out their work, keep an eye on the effectiveness of their learning approach and adjust study skills or goals accordingly? Are they able to react calmly and positively to critical feedback from a teacher or pick themselves up and refocus their efforts following a test score that was lower than expected?<\/p>\n

Homework and home schooling often become marked by outbursts as young learners with high potential struggle to \u2018keep a lid on things\u2019 and remain calm in the face of mental or emotional challenges. It can be extremely hard for them; impulse control skills take years to establish, even into their twenties, in line with their developing brains. Many students with high learning potential will have become used to acquiring knowledge very successfully, yet without consciously using any learning strategies for thought or self-reflection. Without knowing it, they may well have adopted an unreflective, impulsive learning style<\/em> instead.<\/p>\n

However, it is worth encouraging a shift towards a self-regulated learning style as research shows it is associated with better performance and adaptive learning behaviour[1], which are key to supporting academic success and the likelihood of achieving highly.<\/p>\n

Cognition, Metacognition and Motivation<\/h3>\n

Three key areas are needed for successful self-regulation. Although they sound complicated, we all use these skills to a varying degree, they might just need strengthening.<\/p>\n