The following are excerpts from the PowerPoint presentation Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner by Myron H. Dembo, PhD:
What difficulties do learners face in distance learning?
The ability of learners to control the factors or conditions affecting their learning
What are the major components that influence academic success?
Irrational belief: “It’s too late to complete this task.”
Self-talk challenge: “It’s never too late! If I get started now, I can make good progress and get the task done.”
Irrational belief: “I’m very good at getting things done at the last minute, so I don’t have to worry.”
Self-talk challenge: “I fool myself in thinking that I do a good job when I wait until the last minute. The truth is I rush to find all the material I need, I don’t have time to review a draft of the task and make necessary changes.”
Disputing your irrational thoughts
Questions to ask (Ellis, 1998):
What difficulties do learners face in distance learning?
- Frustration and anxiety
- Poor motivation
- Lack of effective learning strategies
- Insufficient time available for study
- Procrastination
- Lack of goals
- Failure to seek help
- Difficulty in monitoring progress
- Poor test preparation
- They hold faulty beliefs about their ability, learning and motivation
- They are unaware of their ineffective learning behavior
- They fail to sustain effective learning and motivational strategies
- They are not ready to change their learning and study behavior
The ability of learners to control the factors or conditions affecting their learning
What are the major components that influence academic success?
- Motivation (Why?)
- Methods of learning (How?)
- Use of time (When?)
- Control of one’s physical environment (Where?)
- Control of one’s social environment (With whom?)
- Control of one’s performance (What?)
- It’s not due yet.
- I work better under pressure.
- I don’t feel like doing it now.
- I don’t know where to begin.
- I’m too tired.
- I need to sleep on it.
- Before I start, I think I’ll take a break.
- My biorhythms are out of sync.
- I need a good stiff drink first.
- Someone else might do it, if I wait.
Irrational belief: “It’s too late to complete this task.”
Self-talk challenge: “It’s never too late! If I get started now, I can make good progress and get the task done.”
Irrational belief: “I’m very good at getting things done at the last minute, so I don’t have to worry.”
Self-talk challenge: “I fool myself in thinking that I do a good job when I wait until the last minute. The truth is I rush to find all the material I need, I don’t have time to review a draft of the task and make necessary changes.”
Disputing your irrational thoughts
Questions to ask (Ellis, 1998):
- Where is holding this belief getting me? Is it helpful or self-defeating?
- Where is the evidence to support the existence of my irrational belief? Is it consistent with reality?
- Is my belief logical?
- Is it really awful (as bad as it could be)?
- Can I really not stand it?
