Dr Asangba Tzudir
Artificial Intelligence has ushered in an era of transformation in the landscape of education. Students today have access to an unprecedented wealth of knowledge and information right in their hands. AI-powered tools can summarize or concise texts, solve problems, generate essays, and provide instant answers to complex questions. While these novelty offer significant opportunities for learning, they also present a significant challenge where there is a growing tendency among students to depend on technology rather than developing the discipline and curiosity required for genuine learning. In such a context, self-regulated learning needs an urgent adoption.
This is something which students need to know to create a framework of learning besides making learning as a pleasurable activity. Self-regulated learning generally refers to a student's ability to take responsibility for his or her own learning process, and which goes beyond the scope of both internal and external assessment. It involves strategizing learning goals, planning study activities, assessing progress, and evaluating outcomes. Rather than being passive recipients of information, self-regulated learning can help them engage actively with knowledge, and take ownership of their educational journey.
With the social media and also AI ‘invasion’, the larger perception is that many students do not express the thirst for learning. The availability of instant answers often discourages deep thinking and sustained effort. Students may focus on obtaining quick solutions rather than understanding concepts. As a result, learning can become superficial, with little room for critical thinking, creativity, or intellectual growth. While AI can provide information, it cannot replace the personal commitment required to transform information into knowledge and wisdom.
This is where self-regulated learning becomes indispensable. Students must understand that learning is not merely about completing assignments or passing examinations. It is a continuous life-long process of inquiry, reflection, and improvement. To achieve this, they need to develop a structured approach to learning.
One may develop based on their approach, abilities and limitations, however, the foremost step in creating a process of self-regulated learning is by developing a Self-Learning Plan. Such a plan will help students identify their academic goals and chart the strategies needed to achieve them. This may include daily study schedules, subject/paper wise targets, reading lists, and a strict timeline for completion. Such a carefully designed learning plan will provide direction and help students remain focused in the midst of distractions. Most importantly, this will also help students understand their priorities even in the midst of distractions.
The next is self-monitoring where students need to regularly assess the direction in which they are heading and see whether they are making progress aligned with their goals. This may involve maintaining daily study journals, home work, reviewing class lectures and study materials and reflect on areas where one faces difficulty or have doubts. Self-monitoring encourages students to become aware of their strengths and weaknesses and which will enable them to make necessary adjustments in their study habits.
The third component is self-evaluation. Learning becomes meaningful only when students critically evaluate their performance based on the learning outcomes. Otherwise in the absence of a well defined learning outcome, it is not going to provide the necessary direction so also the larger objective of learning. A self evaluation on whether one has really understood the concept and be able to express the concept clearly is of paramount importance in triggering the launch pad of learning. It is also necessary to evaluate one’s mistakes and assess the areas where one can really improve. Such reflection promotes deeper understanding and continuous growth.
AI should be viewed as a learning tool rather than a substitute for learning. The future belongs not to those who have access to AI but to those who can learn independently, adapt and evolve continuously, and think critically. Therefore, educational institutions, teachers, and parents must encourage the development of self-regulated learning habits. The real challenge of learning lies in cultivating discipline, curiosity, and responsibility, and self-regulated learning remains the key to successfully mitigate the challenge.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes guest editorials for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
