Monitor not just your goals, but your self-regulation.
Planning and prioritizing are executive functions that are closely related to organization, time management, and initiation. The integrative nature of planning and prioritizing makes them higher-order cognitive skills that also depend on self-awareness.
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Attribute outcomes to the effort made and/or the strategy used; poor outcomes should not be attributed to a lack of ability!
- Design your learning plan.
- Keep a record of the steps when learning (and problem-solving).
- Reflect on your learning (learning goal and learning effort). Do they match? What can be done better?
Self-Monitoring: A Key Component of Self-Regulated Learning
- Embracing Cognitive Load Theory: Cognitive Load Theory posits that effective learning occurs when cognitive resources are optimally managed. Self-monitoring, in this context, involves learners assessing their cognitive load and adjusting their learning strategies accordingly to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. This can be particularly beneficial in digital learning environments, where design factors can induce varying levels of cognitive load.
- Aligning with Self-Determination Theory: Self-Determination Theory emphasizes the role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation. Self-monitoring can enhance these elements by giving learners greater control over their learning process, providing them with feedback on their progress, and helping them connect their learning to their personal goals and interests.
- Leveraging Positive Psychology: Positive psychology focuses on promoting positive emotions, personal strengths, and life satisfaction. Self-monitoring can contribute to these outcomes by helping learners recognize their progress, celebrate their successes, and maintain a positive attitude towards their learning.
- Incorporating Developmental Psychology Perspectives: Developmental psychology provides insights into how self-monitoring skills develop over time and how they can be nurtured at different stages of a learner’s life. This can inform the design of age-appropriate self-monitoring strategies and interventions.
- Promoting Academic Motivation: Self-monitoring can enhance academic motivation by helping learners see the link between their efforts and their academic performance. This can motivate them to invest more effort in their learning and persist in the face of challenges.