Learning strategy

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Definition

According to Jasmina Hasanbegovic[1] “learning strategies refer to Students' self-generated thoughts, feelings, and actions, which are systematically oriented toward attainment of their goals”.

Therefore, implementation of appropriate learning strategies is related to student's self-regulation behavior which in turn should be encouraged by pedagogical designs.

Typical strategic questions a learner might ask, are:

  • How to write a project thesis. How do I have to do a literature review?
  • How to structure my course and lecture notes? How can I cope with note taking ?
  • How to organize my time and keep track of various assignments ?
  • How can I tackle a difficult exercise, e.g. a math problem ?

Types of learning strategies

Globally, one could distinguish among the following kinds

  • Disciplinary heuristics (e.g. "Look at this and that" kind of advice)
  • General problem-solving heuristics
  • Metacognition

Cognitive vs. behavioral vs. self-regulating

Warr & Allan (1998) distinguish between three categories according to the kind of resources used in the regulation of behavior:

  1. Cognitive learning strategies: skills in rehearsing a material to be learned or in organizing it into main theme
  2. behavioral learning strategies: preferences for seeking help from others, for trial and error or for written instruction
  3. self-regulating strategies: controlling emotions, motivation and comprehension [1]

Metacognition

See the metacognition article for details.

  • Blakey and Spence (1990) describe techniques that facilitate metacognition, or "thinking about thinking." Citing the educational value of student-owned learning, the authors suggest that thinking about one's own behavior is the first step towards directing that behavior and learning how to learn. The strategies they discuss as a means to developing metacognition include: "identifying 'what you know' and 'what you don't know'"; "talking about thinking"; "keeping a journal"; "planning and self-regulation"; "debriefing the thinking process"; and "self-evaluation."

Learning styles vs. learning strategies

Issues regarding learning style are somewhat related, i.e. students that willing and able to think in more abstract terms and/or to critically examine what they do may show better performance.

A learning style refers to the relationship between individuals and their ways of learning [2] whereas learning strategies refer to attitudes and behavior that is oriented towards goals. As an example, one could compare/oppose:

Learning style Learning strategy
self-assessment self-assessment
field-dependent field-independent
cognitive level plus meta-cognitive level
learner preference learner competence

Instructional design considerations

It is important to engage students in strategic thinking, in particular more open designs like project-oriented learning.

There exist instructional design models like POME or at least simple pedagogical activities like asking students to blog from time to time about their own progress.

References

  • Barrell, J. (1995). Teaching for thoughtfulness: Classroom strategies to enhance intellectual development. White Plains, NY: Longman.
  • Blakey, E., & Spence, S. (1990). Developing metacognition. ERIC Digest [2]
  • Paris, S.G, Cross, D.R., & Lipson, M.Y. (1984, December). Informed strategies for learning: A program to improve children's reading awareness and comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 76(6), 1239-1252.
  • Swartz, R.J., & Perkins, D.N. (1989). Teaching thinking: Issues and approaches. Pacific Grove, CA: Midwest Publications.

Footnotes

  1. Hasanbegovic, Jasmina (2006). IGIP Course materials, Module 5 - Tutoring and Collaboration
  2. IGIP Course materials

Metacognition and learning strategies