What is it you ask? We were trying to figure it out too! It turns out self-regulated learning is not as widely a researched topic as we had thought it was. Honestly, the passerbyers were impressed with our conversations and surprisingly, even our keynote, Roni Habib, was unaware of the term. We came to define it as the process by which one can regulate their own learning and become effective learners.
Elements of Self-Regulated Learning
Effective learners are self-regulating; analyzing task requirements; setting productive goals; and selecting, adapting, or inventing strategies to achieve their objectives. These learners also monitor progress as they work through the task, managing intrusive emotions and waning motivation as well as adjusting strategies processed to foster success. These are the students who ask questions, take notes, and allocate their time and their resources in ways that help them to be in charge of their own learning (Paris & Paris, 2001).
For our purposes, the self regulated learner will be able to identify which device is appropriate for a given task, identify which method/practices work best for him/her as a learner (audio, visual, kinethestic, ipad/laptop/paper&pen). As their educators, how do we do this? How do we make students realize that they are responsible for their own learning and it does not "happen" to them. They are an active participant and ultimately, in charge of their learning. Furthermore, how do we inspire initiative and motivation? Are those things we can inspire or teach? Are they inherent? Carol Dweck promotes Growth Mindsets which would tell us that, yes, you can always develop these as long as you try, practice, andd receive the right feedback.
The group work sessions were amazing and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to brainstorm and work with such an amazing group of people. While we had very productive conversations, we were not able to come up with a clear and concise plan that we would have been able to, realistically, return to our school and hit the ground running . We did, however, develop an action plan that is realistic given what is already locked in for next year.
Part of the action plan was the decision that we need to guide our students building a tool box to become better learners. The toolbox theoretically contains strategies to cope with failure and strategies for resilience; strategies for agility and perseverance; the ability to be vulnerable with other students (mindfulness and growth mindset); universal truths of learning: strategies for self-assessment (self identify what kind of learner are they, learning habits for specific tasks), time management and organization, goal setting; identifying and discussing processes of thinking; and last but not least, develop and practice the skill of asking questions. And this "toolbox" will, of course, grow and morph over time.
The first step in creating this toolbox, is creating a pilot for our 7th graders (and their teachers). Get all teachers onboard. Reiterate the idea of mindfulness (a theme from this school year) to help pave the way toward developing these inward facing skills, scaffolding these skills by introducing their development to the 7th graders upon their entry to our school and throughout the grades as they move up. We are going to create a study habits page for students on our LMS, Haiku Learning, for reference. I will be creating study habit tip slides for our CTL display to create an opportunity for accidental and indirect learning. But, more importantly, we are creating a page in Haiku for teachers to help them create spaces and opportunities for students to develop and practice self regulated learning.
I'll keep you posted on how this process works and the group will be following up to reiterate and revisit the ideas.
If you are interested in reading more about self regulated learning and self directed learning, please see the links below and feel free to share your resources!!! I'd love to read them!
Resouces:
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/secret-self-regulated-learning/
https://teal.ed.gov/tealguide/selfregulated
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