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Project DeSign

Dynamics of student self-regulation and links with perceived teaching quality

Self-regulation refers to an individual’s ability to control his or her own thoughts, feelings and actions in a way that supports the pursuit of long-term goals. The characteristics of situations influence this ability and can therefore support or hinder self-regulation. The DeSign project investigated the interplay between the perceived quality of teaching during a lesson and changes in students’ self-regulation.

Some pupils find it easy to pay attention and follow the classroom rules. Others find it difficult to do so. These two types of students differ in their self-regulation.
Self-regulation refers to an individual’s ability to control their thoughts, feelings and actions in a way that supports the pursuit of long-term goals, such as academic goals. In the past, studies have repeatedly shown that differences in self-regulation between students explain differences in their academic performance. This has highlighted the importance of self-regulation in the school context. Furthermore, self-regulation is thought to fluctuate within students over time and in response to current situations. In the school context, however, it is not yet clear how students’ self-regulation changes in response to the perceived quality of teaching during a lesson.
The DeSign project therefore investigated the interplay between the perceived quality of teaching during a lesson and changes in students’ self-regulation. It also took into account differences in self-regulation between students. In this way, the project sought to contribute to answering the question of what constitutes good teaching from the perspective of individual students.

Publications
  • Blume, F., & Schmiedek, F. (2024). It counts in every single lesson: Between- and within-person associations between student-perceived teaching quality and student self-regulation. Learning and Instruction, 92, 101908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2024.101908
Adaptive Education