Abstract
Supporting students in using effective learning strategies is a complex process. It involves more than simply telling students to use a set of strategies. The present article briefly reviews three themes that are important to consider when trying to support student learning both inside and outside of the classroom: (1) situating student and teacher experiences; (2) providing metacognitive knowledge of when, how, and why a learning strategy can be useful; and (3) tapping into motivation to energize students to put forth the effort to engage with such strategies. Across these themes, there are challenges in supporting students to use effective strategies. To overcome those challenges, it is crucial to incorporate teacher and student perspectives into the design and implementation, drawing on common ground and authentic experiences.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernacki, M., Nokes-Malach, T., Richey, J. E., & Belenky, D. M. (2016). Science diaries: A brief writing intervention to improve motivation to learn science. Educational Psychologist, 36(1), 26–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2014.895293
Bernacki, M. L., Vosicka, L., Utz, J. C., & Warren, C. B. (2021). Effects of digital learning skill training on the academic performance of undergraduates in science and mathematics. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(6), 1107–1125. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000485
Biwer, F., de Bruin, A. B. H., Schreurs, S., & oude Egbrink, M. G. A. (2020). Future steps in teaching desirably difficult learning strategies: Reflections from the study smart program. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 9(4), 439–446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.07.006
Boden, K. K., Zepeda, C. D., & Nokes-Malach, T. J. (2020). Achievement goals and conceptual learning: An examination of teacher talk. Journal of Educational Psychology, 12(6), 1221–1242. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000421
Dignath, C., & Veenman, M. V. (2021). The role of direct strategy instruction and indirect activation of self-regulated learning—Evidence from classroom observation studies. Educational Psychology Review, 33(2), 489–533. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09534-0
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266
Greene, J. A. (2021). Teacher support for metacognition and self-regulated learning: A compelling story and a prototypical model. Metacognition and Learning, 16, 651–666. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-021-09283-7
Greeno, J. G., & Engeström, Y. (2014). Learning in activity. In R. K. Sawyer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of the learning sciences (2nd ed., pp. 128–148). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139519526.009
Hartwig, M. K., & Dunlosky, J. (2012). Study strategies of college students: Are self-testing and scheduling related to achievement? Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 19(1), 126–134. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-011-0181-y
Karpicke, J. D., Butler, A. C., & Roediger, H. L. (2009). Metacognitive strategies in student learning: Do students practise retrieval when they study on their own? Memory, 17(4), 471–479. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210802647009
Koedinger, K. R., Booth, J. L., & Klahr, D. (2013). Instructional complexity and the science to constrain it. Science, 342(6161), 935–937. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1238056
Meyer, D. K., & Turner, J. C. (2006). Re-conceptualizing emotion and motivation to learn in classroom contexts. Educational Psychology Review, 18(4), 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-006-9032-1
Morehead, K., Rhodes, M. G., & Delozier, S. (2016). Instructor and student knowledge of study strategies. Memory, 24(2), 257–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2014.1001992
Schraw, G., & Moshman, D. (1995). Metacognitive theories. Educational Psychology Review, 7(4), 351–371. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212307
Wolters, C. A. (2003). Regulation of motivation: Evaluating an underemphasized aspect of self-regulated learning. Educational Psychologist, 38(4), 189–205. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15326985EP3804_1
Yan, V. X., Schuetze, B. A., & Rea, S. D. (2023). Becoming better teachers: Augmenting learning via cognitive and motivational theories. Human Arenas.
Zepeda, C. D., Hlutkowsky, C. O., Partika, A. C., & Nokes-Malach, T. J. (2019). Identifying teachers’ supports of metacognition through classroom talk and its relation to growth in conceptual learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(3), 522–541. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000300
Zepeda, C. D., Martin, R. S., & Butler, A. C. (2020). Motivational strategies to engage learners in desirable difficulties. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 9(4), 468–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.08.007
Zepeda, C. D., & Nokes-Malach, T. J. (2021). Metacognitive study strategies in a college course and their relation to exam performance. Memory & Cognition, 49, 480–497. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-020-01106-5
Availability of Data and Materials
Not applicable
Funding
The author received support from Vanderbilt University.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
C.D.Z. drafted and prepared the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics Approval
Not applicable.
Competing Interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zepeda, C.D. Advancing Student Learning Inside and Outside of the Classroom with Cognitive and Motivational Supports. Hu Arenas 7, 470–475 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-023-00384-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-023-00384-0