Task strategies and reflection in Self Regulated Learning
On 27 May 2025, the TLC FMG hosted its third lunch seminar in the Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) series. Brigitte ten Brink and Fam te Poel guided participants through the key question: How can we help students take control of their own learning process?
Why self-regulated learning matters
Self-regulated learning is more than just a buzzword; it’s essential for academic success. Effective SRL involves students setting goals, selecting and applying appropriate study strategies, monitoring their own progress, and making adjustments along the way. But these are complex skills that don’t develop automatically; they need to be taught and supported.
Helping students study smarter
Students often rely on passive methods like rereading or highlighting. Research, however, shows that more challenging strategies lead to better long-term learning. These include:
- Retrieval practice (self-testing)
- Spaced practice
- Elaboration and self-explanation
- Interleaving different topics
These are known as desirable difficulties – methods that may feel harder in the moment but strengthen memory and understanding over time. Tools like Anki (for flashcards and spaced repetition) and resources like Maastricht University’s “Study Smart” infographic can help make these strategies more accessible. Other rescourses to support your students within the SRL framwork can be found on Breineducatie.
From strategy to self-awareness
Metacognition refers to knowing how and when to use these strategies. It is a crucial ingredient of SRL. Teachers play a vital role in developing this awareness by offering clear instruction, modeling reflective questions, and guiding students in their use of learning tools.
Feedback and reflection
Supporting students in SRL also means encouraging self-monitoring and reflection. Using the feedback model from Hattie & Timperley (2007), teachers can help students answer:
- Where am I going? (Feed Up – goal setting)
- How am I doing? (Feed Back – progress monitoring)
- Where to next? (Feed Forward – adjustment and planning)
Takeaways
To foster truly self-regulated learners, we need to make SRL a visible, explicit part of our teaching. It’s not just about offering tools—it’s about creating a learning culture where students are supported in becoming independent, reflective learners.