Self-regulated Learning

Self-regulation is the ability to regulate one’s cognition, behavior, actions, and motivation strategically and autonomously in order to achieve self-set goals including the learning of academic skills and knowledge. Accordingly, self-regulated learning involves self-generated and systematic thoughts and behaviors with the aim of attaining learning goals. With that in mind, this study aimed to examine the effect of self-regulation instruction to the intermediate EFL readers on their ability to make within-text inferences while reading. Zimmerman’s model of self-regulation with its three cyclic phases of forethought, performance and self-reflection constituted the theoretical basis of this study. Two intact intermediate classes in an English language institute were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group was trained in self-regulatory processes which were directed at EFL reading comprehension for ten sessions, while the control group received the routine, traditional reading instruction involving pre-, while-, and post-reading tasks and activities. The results of parametric one-way between-group ANCOVA showed that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the post-test of EFL reading comprehension, particularly in term of within-text inferencing. This finding revealed that self-regulation instruction aimed at EFL reading comprehension significantly contributed to learners’ ability to make correct within-text inferences while reading in English as a foreign language.

A correlational survey research design was utilized to investigate self-regulated Learning (SRL) and teacher-student interaction factors that had been realized to have contributive roles in EFL learners' academic success. A sample of 218 EFL learners (male = 102 and female = 116) was drawn with the aid of a prior sample size calculator for the structural equation models from 645 students. They were within the age range of 18-45 and were enrolled at Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch. The structural equation model (SEM) hypothesis testing procedure revealed that the teacher-student interaction directly and significantly influenced learners' academic accomplishments. Likewise, the obtained results indicate that the impact of the teacher-student interaction on EFL learners' academic achievement is mediated by the effects of SRL. Correspondingly, the obtained results indicate that the theorized model fits the data. The causal contribution of psychological factors, consisting of the teacher-student interaction and SRL, to EFL learners’ academic achievement was validated. The findings of this exploratory research have certain implications for classroom practice which are elaborated in detail in this paper.

Today, education experts mostly aim to detect significant causal variables leading to students’ achievements in educational settings. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between executive functions and self-regulated academic learning regarding the mediating role of metacognition and working memory among university students. This research was a correlational study using structural equation modeling. The statistical population included of all students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in the academic year 2018-2019. A total of 351 students were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling. The research instrument included the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30), Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire, the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ), and the Test of Information Processing Skills (TIPS). The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings revealed no significant and direct relationship between executive functions and self-regulated academic learning (P>0.05). However, there was a significant and direct relationship between executive functions with metacognition and working memory (p <0.01). Moreover, a significant relationship was observed between metacognition and working memory with academic self-regulated academic learning (p <0.01). In this regard, metacognition and working memory fully mediated the relationship between executive functions and self-regulated academic learning. The study findings provide university students and experts with an appropriate model since, as the theoretical foundations of the proposed model documented, academic achievement and well-being are mainly dependent on executive functions. Accordingly, metacognitive skills, including self-regulated academic learning, can be improved by promoting the executive functions among university students.

This study investigated the relationships among self-regulated learning, motivation for academic achievement and self-concept in prediction of academic achievement of male high school students studying through distance education system in Kashan Province, Iran. A cross-sectional, descriptive- correlational design  was conducted among all male high schools students in Kashan’s distance education centers during 2015-2016(n=718). Using a multistage cluster sampling, 270 students were selected. Data were collected using Herman’s achievement motivation questionnaire (1970), the Pintrich & De Groot self-regulated learning scale (1990) and Becks self-concept scale (1990). Stepwise regression analysis was employed in the SPSS version 20. The results showed that self-regulated learning, motivation for academic achievement and self-concept had significant positive relationships and predicted academic achievement statistically (p

The current study aimed to examine whether or not the explicit teaching of motivational regulation strategies significantly affected Iranian EFL learners' willingness to communicate (WTC) in general English online classes. Moreover, it endeavors to investigate if there was a significant difference between male and female Iranian learners' WTC in general English online classes regarding the explicit teaching of motivational regulation strategies. To this aim, a pretest-posttest design was used and 130 participants were randomly chosen out of 406 pre-intermediate level students. After the administration of the homogeneity test, 92 learners were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. There were 46 learners in the experimental and 46 learners in the control group with equal number of male and female participants in each. The findings revealed that the explicit teaching of motivational regulation strategies significantly affected Iranian EFL learners' WTC in general English online classes. It was also observed that female Iranian learners’ WTC was significantly higher than that of male learners' in general English online classes regarding the explicit teaching of motivational regulation strategies. The findings of this study could be of great importance for language learners, teacher trainers, and teachers.