The Importance Of Self-Regulation In Education

What is Self-regulation? Is it the same concept as Self-control? If not, what is the difference? Self-control is the ability to control one 's emotions and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses. On the contrary, Self-regulation is defined as “the set of behaviors that include the awareness, knowledge, and control of cognition; the ability to manage time and resources; the ability to regulate effort (maintain focus and complete tasks); and the ability to recognize the need for help and to identify and use sources of help” (Miller, 11). Everyone has instances where their self-regulation is put to the test; whether it be a kid undergoing the marshmallow test , a college student preparing for a final exam, or an employee handling a

"A self-regulated learner is able to monitor his or her learning and identify and implement strategies to bring it up to the predetermined standard of the course, and therefore self-regulation has an important role in learning..." (Miller, 11). Based on my research, self-regulation has a big influence over all types of college students. Not only that, but self-regulation also has a very substantial impact regarding how these students go about the writing process. Moreover, using technology like the online writing site Blogger, or incorporating self-regulated learning curriculums can help these students that are struggling with college writing.

One of the first studies that involved self-regulation/self-control and made it a much more researched phenomenon was The Marshmallow Test; which was devised in the 1960’s by Stanford University’s Bing Nursery School. This test was used to test kids’ self-regulation, and it went as follows: The child being tested is left sitting alone in a room with a table holding 3 marshmallows in total. The child could choose to either immediately eat only one