Assessment of Self-Regulation in Ontario Secondary Schools

Authors

  • Stefan Merchant Queen's University
  • John Kirby Queen's University
  • Don Klinger Waikato University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v69i1.72647

Abstract

Self-regulation is positively associated with better academic, and life, outcomes. Consequently, many school systems aim to develop self-regulation, or related constructs. Thus, many teachers are asked to assess and report upon students’ self-regulation (or related constructs). How secondary teachers in Ontario, Canada accomplish this task was investigated using mixed methods research. Phase 1 involved semi-structured interviews with 26 secondary teachers. The second phase of the study involved the analysis of report card data to examine large scale trends in self-regulation grades. The third phase employed an online survey whose development was informed by the interviews of the first phase. The overall findings are that Ontario secondary teachers vary in their definitions of self-regulation, but the strongest influences on teachers' self-regulation assessments are negative student behaviours. Report card data suggest that teachers struggle to assess self-regulation independently from other constructs such as initiative or collaboration. Implications for practice are discussed.

Keywords: Classroom Assessment, Self-regulation, Learning skills, Grading, Report Cards

L'autorégulation est positivement associée à de meilleurs résultats scolaires et personnels. Par conséquent, de nombreux systèmes scolaires visent à développer l'autorégulation, ou des concepts connexes. Ainsi, on demande à de nombreux enseignants d'évaluer et de rendre compte de l'autorégulation des élèves (ou des concepts connexes). La manière dont les enseignants du secondaire de l'Ontario (Canada) accomplissent cette tâche a été étudiée à l'aide de méthodes de recherche mixtes. La première phase a consisté en des entretiens semi-structurés avec 26 enseignants du secondaire. La deuxième phase de l'étude a consisté à analyser les données des bulletins scolaires afin d'examiner les tendances à grande échelle des notes d'autorégulation. La troisième phase a fait appel à une enquête en ligne dont l'élaboration a été guidée par les entretiens de la première phase. Les conclusions générales sont que les enseignants du secondaire de l'Ontario n'ont pas tous la même définition de l'autorégulation, mais que les comportements négatifs des élèves sont ceux qui influencent le plus l'évaluation de l'autorégulation par les enseignants. Les données des bulletins scolaires suggèrent que les enseignants ont du mal à évaluer l'autorégulation indépendamment d'autres concepts tels que l'initiative ou la collaboration. Les implications pour la pratique sont discutées.

Mots clés : évaluation en classe, autorégulation, compétences d'apprentissage, notation, bulletins scolaires

 

Author Biographies

Stefan Merchant, Queen's University

Stefan Merchant is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University. His research focuses on the assessment of complex constructs.

John Kirby, Queen's University

John Kirby is a Professor Emeritus at Queen’s University with a specialty in educational psychology. He has authored over 200 publications on topics such as cognition, reading, and self-regulated learning.

Don Klinger, Waikato University

Don Klinger is the Dean of Education at Waikato University in New Zealand and a recognized expert in assessment, testing, and psychometrics.

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Published

2023-03-17

How to Cite

Merchant, S., Kirby, J., & Klinger, D. (2023). Assessment of Self-Regulation in Ontario Secondary Schools. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 69(1), 20–40. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v69i1.72647

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Section

ARTICLES