Middle School Students' Reported Self-Regulation Strategies in Completing Online Mathematics Homework

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study is to benefit our understanding of the potential of online homework as it relates to developing and supporting students’ self-regulated learning (SRL). This descriptive case study explores the use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies reported by students in the context of completing online mathematics homework (OHW). Eighth-grade students (10 total) from a traditional middle school were interviewed using a validated data collection instrument, the Self-Regulated Learning Interview Schedule or SRLIS (Zimmerman & Martinez-Pons, 1986, 1988). Students’ open-ended responses were interpreted using a framework of self-regulation theory and coded using 14 self-regulation strategies to identify the strategies used and to understand differences or similarities among students among different achievement groups (low or high). Students reported using a variety of SRL strategies while completing OHW. All but two students reported goal-setting and planning and seeking social assistance (from teachers, adults, and peers). Additionally, this study identified two new categories of seeking non-social assistance—online resources in general and those from the Khan Academy in particular. Among achievement groups, students in the high-achievement group reported greater use of the cognitive SRL strategy organizing and transforming , whereas students in the low-achievement group had more recurrent reports of no strategy . Students in the low-achievement group reported use of the motivational SRL strategies, environmental structuring and self-consequences , whereas students in the high-achievement group reported no use of motivational SRL strategies, but instead reported parent-initiated involvement.