Self-regulated learning in higher education : identifying key component processes

The concept of self-regulated learning is becoming increasingly relevant in the study of learning and academic achievement, especially in higher education, where quite distinctive demands are placed on students. Though several key theoretical perspectives have been advanced for self-regulated learning, there is consensus regarding the central role played by student perceptions of themselves as learners. There are two general aims of this positional article. The first is to emphasise self-regulated learning as a relevant and valuable concept in higher education. The second is to promote the study of those constituent elements considered most likely to develop our understanding beyond a mere description of those processes thought to be involved in self-regulated learning. A case is presented for learning style, academic control beliefs and student self-evaluation as key constructs which contribute to an increased understanding of student self-regulated learning and which facilitate the application of self-regulated learning in pedagogy by enhancing its tangibility and utility

Approaches to learning and competitive attitude in students in higher education

The degree to which individuals are able to nominate or change their approach to learning in order to meet the needs of the learning situation opens a lengthy and complex debate. Some evidence exists for a shift in approach depending on the experience of the learner and demands of the task, while other evidence is available which indicates stability of approach to learning over time and across task. The present study examines the relationship between approaches to learning and competitive attitude in undergraduate students. Previous research has reported a link between constructs such as achievement orientation and personality traits and cognitive strategies and it was suggested here that competitive attitude may be one mediating factor in students’ approaches to learning. Findings did not reveal a convincing relationship between competitiveness and approaches to learning and it is suggested that further exploration of trait constructs such as competitiveness may not yield meaningful evidence regarding the stability of students’ approaches to learning. There was also no evidence that the student experience of higher education cultivates competitiveness in students as cross-sectional comparisons of student year groups revealed only negligible and statistically non-significant differences in competitive attitude

Development of the Web Users Self-Efficacy scale (WUSE)

The aim of this research was to develop a scale that could evaluate an individuals confidence in using the Internet. Web-based resources are becoming increasingly important within higher education and it is therefore vital that students and staff feel confident and competent in the access, provision, and utilisation of these resources. The scale developed here represents an extension of previous research (Cassidy & Eachus, 2002) that developed a measure of self-efficacy in the context of computer use. An iterative approach was used in the development of the Web User Self-Efficacy scale (WUSE) and the participants were recruited from the student body of a large University in the North West of the United Kingdom, and globally via a web site set up for this purpose. Initial findings suggest that the scale has acceptable standards of reliability and validity though work is continuing to refine the scale and improve the psychometric properties of the tool

Creating and validating self-efficacy scales for students

Purpose: student radiographers must possess certain abilities to progress in their training; these can be assessed in various ways. Bandura’s social cognitive theory identifies self-efficacy as a key psychological construct with regard to how people adapt to environments where new skills are developed. Use of this construct is common in health care literature but little has been noted within radiographic literature. The authors sought to develop a self-efficacy scale for student radiographers. Method: the scale was developed following a standard format. An initial pool of 80 items was generated and psychometric analysis was used to reduce this to 68 items. Radiography students drawn from 7 universities were participants (N=198) in validating the scale. Results: the psychometric properties of the scale were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA), factor analysis and item analysis. ANOVA demonstrated an acceptable level of known group validity: first-year, second-year, and third-year students all scored significantly differently (P=.035) from one another. Factor analysis identified the most significant factor as confidence in image appraisal. The scale was refined using item and factor analysis to produce the final 25-item scale. Conclusion This is the first published domain-specific self-efficacy scale validated specifically for student radiographers. In its current format it may have pedagogical utility. The authors currently are extending the work to add to the scale’s validity and embedding it into student training to assess its predictive value

Resilience building in students : the role of academic self-efficacy

Self-efficacy relates to an individual’s perception of their capabilities. It has a clear self-evaluative dimension leading to high or low perceived self-efficacy. Individual differences in perceived self-efficacy have been shown to be better predictors of performance than previous achievement or ability and seem particularly important when individuals face adversity. The study investigated the nature of the association between academic self-efficacy (ASE) and academic resilience. Undergraduate student participants (N=435) were exposed to an adverse situation case vignette describing either personal or vicarious academic adversity. ASE was measured pre-exposure and academic resilience was measured post- exposure. ASE was correlated with, and a significant predictor of, academic resilience and students exhibited greater academic resilience when responding to vicarious adversity compared to personal adversity. Identifying constructs that are related to resilience and establishing the precise nature of how such constructs influence academic resilience will assist the development of interventions aimed at promoting resilience in students

Virtual Learning Environments as mediating factors in student satisfaction with teaching and learning in Higher Education

Virtual learning environments (VLE) have become a standard feature of most courses in higher education, offering the potential to facilitate and improve teaching and learning. Whilst there is an implicit assumption that VLEs benefit student learning, much of the evidence originates from direct questioning of students about their satisfaction with the VLE itself. In order to establish the impact of VLEs on student satisfaction with teaching and learning in higher education, the present study gathered data from a sample of 128 undergraduate students using self-report module evaluation questionnaires (MEQs) completed before and after VLEs were introduced. MEQs were completed in relation one core (Research Methods) and one elected (Health Psychology) module. Results for the core module showed a marked increase in the percentage of students responding as extremely or very satisfied following the introduction of the VLE compared to the pre VLE period. There was also a fall in the percentage of students responding as neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. No clear or consistent change in student satisfaction was evident for the elected module. Improved communication and greater variety of teaching methods were reported by students post VLE for both the core and the elected module. Findings provide some support for the notion that VLEs mediate increased student satisfaction with teaching and learning in higher education, but that their impact may vary according to the course and the perceived utility of the VLE, pre-existing student satisfaction and the effectiveness with which VLEs are blended with traditional approaches to meet student expectations