Activating a Self-Regulated Process

Author(s):  
M. Alessandra Mariotti ◽  
Laura Maffei

This contribution is based on a research study which aims at investigating the benefits coming from the use of the Aplusix ICT environment in a remedial intervention in Algebra. The authors start from elaborating a theoretical reference frame for Self-Regulated Learning in order to make it suitable to reformulate and investigate the specific pedagogical problem of a remedial activity in Algebra (first year of the upper secondary school, 9th grade). Then, the authors present the design of a teaching intervention that has been carried out at school, centred around the use of Aplusix. Finally, they discuss some results from the analysis of the data collected during the experiment. The study’s results show clear evidence of the evolution of students’ awareness and self control, i.e. they have become self regulated learners.

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Gyllstad ◽  
Jonas Granfeldt ◽  
Petra Bernardini ◽  
Marie Källkvist

This study is a contribution to the empirical underpinning of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and it aims to identify linguistic correlates to the proficiency levels defined by the CEFR. The study was conducted in a Swedish school setting, focusing on English, French and Italian, and examined the relationship between CEFR levels (A1–C2) assigned by experienced raters to learners’ written texts and three measures of syntactic complexity (based on length of t-unit, subclause ratio, and mean length of clause (cf. Norris & Ortega, 2009)). Data were elicited through two written tasks (a short letter and a narrative) completed by pupils of L2 English (N = 54) in years four, nine and the final year of upper-secondary school, L3 French (N = 38) in year nine and the final year of upper-secondary school, and L4 Italian (N = 28) in the final year of upper-secondary school and first year of university. The results showed that, globally, there were weak to medium-strong correlations between assigned CEFR levels and the three measures of syntactic complexity in English, French and Italian. Furthermore, it was found that syntactic complexity was homogeneous across the three languages at CEFR level A, whereas syntactic complexity was different across languages at CEFR level B, especially in the data for English and French. Consequences for the empirical validity of the CEFR framework and the nature of the three measures of complexity are discussed.


Author(s):  
Laura Niemi ◽  
Jari Metsämuuronen ◽  
Markku Hannula ◽  
Anu Laine

Tutkimus on osa pitkittäistutkimusta, jossa samaan ikäluokkaan kuuluvia oppilaita seurattiin perusopetuksen kolmannelta vuosiluokalta toisen asteen koulutuksen loppuun neljällä eri mittauskerralla. Tutkimuksessa käytetään Opetushallituksen ja Kansallisen koulutuksen arviointikeskuksen vuosien 2005–2015 aikana keräämää kansallisesti edustavaa tutkimusaineistoa. Tutkimusaineisto käsittää kaikkiaan 3896 oppilasta. Tutkimuksessa keskitytään tarkastelemaan matematiikan parhaita osaajia, joita on yhteensä 292 (7,5 %). Poikien osuus on 64,0 % (n = 187) ja tyttöjen 36,0 % (n = 105). Osaaminen määritetään yhdeksännen vuosiluokan kokeessa menestymisen perusteella. Kansallisten matematiikan kokeiden lisäksi oppilaat ovat vastanneet erilaisiin kyselyihin, joissa heiltä on kerätty tietoa yksilöön, kouluun ja kotitaustaan liittyvistä tekijöistä. Tutkimuksessa selvitetään näiden tekijöiden yhteyttä toisen asteen koulutusvalintaan ja osaamisen kehittymiseen toisen asteen opintojen aikana. Tulosten analysoinnissa käytettiin päätöspuuanalyysia (DTA) ja regressioanalyysia. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että suurin osa (60,0 %) yhdeksännen vuosiluokan parhaista osaajista oli parhaita osaajia myös toisen asteen päättyessä ja muiden osaaminen laski hyvien tai keskitason osaajien tasolle. Yksilöön liittyvät tekijät selittävät parhaiten matematiikassa menestymistä myös toisella asteella. Myönteiset asenteet matematiikkaa kohtaan ja vahva matematiikan osaamisen pohja perusopetuksessa luovat edellytyksiä menestyä matematiikassa erinomaisesti toisella asteella. Matematiikan parhaiden osaajien osaamisen taso heikkenee todennäköisemmin, jos oppilas ei mene lukioon tai ei suorita lukiossa vähintään 11 matematiikan kurssia. Yhdeksännen vuosiluokan parhaista osaajista lukioon hakeutuivat todennäköisemmin ne, jotka menestyivät arvosanatiedon perusteella erinomaisesti äidinkielessä. In English The study is part of a longitudinal research. Same students were followed from 3rd grade of primary education to the end of upper secondary level. The data was collected by EDUFI and FINEEC during 2005–2015. The data consists of 3896 students and the target group consists of mathematically high-achieving students. Total number of them is 292 (7,5 %). Definition of high-achieving students is based on success in the mathematics examination of 9th grade.  In addition to math examinations it has been gathered information about students’ individual-, school- and home-related factors. The study examines the relationship between these factors and the choice between upper secondary vocational education and general upper secondary school. The aim is to investigate how high-achieving students’ mathematical competence develop during these studies and which factors are related to development. Decision tree analysis (DTA) and regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The results indicated that 60,0 % of mathematically high-achieving students were also high-achieving students at the end of upper secondary level. The individual-related factors were explanatory factors for mathematical success at the upper secondary level. Positive attitudes towards mathematics and strong mathematical competence in basic education predicted excellent success in mathematics later. The competence of high-achieving student most likely decreased if a student didn’t go to the general upper secondary school or didn’t complete at least 11 mathematics courses. They, who performed excellently in their studies of mother tongue in 9th grade, most likely applied to the general upper secondary school.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Henriette T. Holmegaard ◽  
Lene Møller Madsen ◽  
Lars Ulriksen

Denne artikel præsenterer resultater fra et forskningsprojekt, hvor studerende er fulgt fra slutningen af gymnasiet og ind på en lang videregående teknisk eller naturvidenskabelig uddannelse. Fokus er på de studerendes løbende forventningsafstemning i mødet med den nye uddannelse og de forhandlinger, der finder sted over tid, når de studerende forsøger at blive akademisk integreret. Analysen fokuserer på de studerende der oplever dette som særligt vanskeligt. Tre forhandlingsstrategier identificeres: at udholde at ens forventninger ikke bliver indfriet; gentagende afprøvninger af, om det, man møder, kan tilpasses ens forventninger; at indordne og tilpasse sine forventninger til det, man møder. De tre forskellige strategier foldes ud i analysen med konkrete eksempler og viser, at de studerendes iden-titetsarbejde er en vigtig del af progressionen i de studerendes første studieår. Konsekvenserne og implikationerne for praksis diskuteres afslutningsvist.  This paper presents results from a research project where students are followed from the end of upper secondary school into their higher education science programme. We pay particular attention to the students’ continuous negotiation of expectations in relation to the content of their new study programmes and their attempts to become academically integrated. The analysis is focused on those students who found these negotiations difficult. Three negotiation strategies are identified: to endure and just accept that one’s expectations are not honoured; to continuously try to fit what you meet to your expectations; to fit and adjust one’s expectations to what you meet. Cases from the study cohort who used these strategies are identified and these form the basis of the discussion. Particular attention is paid to the importance of students’ ‘identitywork’ in their first year of study and the consequences and implications this has for practice. 


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janna Linnansaari ◽  
Jaana Viljaranta ◽  
Jari Lavonen ◽  
Barbara Schneider ◽  
Katariina Salmela-Aro

The decreasing number of students who are engaged in science learning has been recognised as a problem. The pre-conditions of engagement and actual engagement were examined using a novel research method to obtain detailed information on Finnish students’ engagement in different situations and to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon. The study’s participants consisted of 68 students (31 girls, 37 boys) from 9th grade and 67 students (46 girls, 21 boys) from 1st grade in upper secondary school. The research aimed to answer the following question: How does Finnish students’ engagement occur in exact and life science lessons? Participants received smartphones equipped with a smartphone application that included an experience sampling method questionnaire. The smartphones were programmed to emit a signal during every science lesson and otherwise randomly during the day (from 8 am to 8 pm). The results reveal that situation and grade had significant effects on students’ pre-conditions of engagement and actual engagement. Our results also show that girls had the highest interest in life science lessons and boys in exact science lessons.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document