Cited by 146Visual and Cognitive Learning ProcessesInnovative Teaching and Learning MethodsEducational Strategies and Epistemologies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 57 of the 58 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 1 of the 38 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Bridging Cognitive Load and Self-Regulated Learning Research: A complementary approach to contemporary issues in educational research

Open access
de Bruin, Anique B.H., van Merriënboer, Jeroen J.G.·2017·Learning and Instruction

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This editorial introduces a special issue arguing that cognitive load theory (CLT) and self-regulated learning (SRL) research can be combined into a joint paradigm, with the cue-utilization framework as a bridging basis. It proposes that learners need diagnostic cues to monitor learning and regulate mental effort, and it positions six studies and two commentaries as a first step toward that agenda.

Key findings

  • The paper argues that CLT and SRL share common ground: both are based in learning and memory psychology, use subjective estimates such as mental effort and judgments of learning, and focus on self-directed learning.
  • The cue-utilization framework is proposed as the main bridge: monitoring and regulation judgments are inferential, and accuracy depends on cue diagnosticity and cue utilization.
  • The special issue contains six studies and two commentaries, organized around three research questions about what cues influence CL/SRL ratings, how cue use in CL and SRL is related, and how to design effective cue prompts.
  • The editorial states that developing a combined CLT-SRL theoretical approach and research paradigm will probably take at least as long as the 25 years it took to bring CLT and SRL research to their current state.

Methods

  • Design: conceptual/editorial introduction to a special issue, not an empirical study.
  • The paper reviews fundamentals of CLT and SRL, analyzes similarities and differences, and presents the cue-utilization framework as a basis for integration.
  • It then positions the six special-issue studies and two commentaries within a proposed joint CLT-SRL research agenda.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the special-issue studies and commentaries “should be seen as a very first step” in executing the joint research agenda.
  • It notes that the first two studies use tasks of relatively low ecological validity, though they are described as apt for answering the research questions.
  • The paper reports Sweller and Paas’s commentary objection that combining SRL and CLT is difficult because self-regulation is considered a biologically primary skill and therefore unteachable, whereas CLT stresses biologically secondary, domain-specific knowledge requiring explicit instruction.
  • Evident from the text: as an editorial, it presents no new empirical data and does not test the proposed joint paradigm directly.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.learninstruc.2017.06.001

Cites

57 of 57 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

32 Not checked yet · 23 Own interpretation · 12 No basis given · 1 Partly supported · 1 Own method · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 37 references — free account

Show all 27 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 24
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 31
42 of 42
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The different types of cognitive load are additive.

    “CLT assumes that the different types of cognitive load are additive.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Students generally have difficulty monitoring their learning and making effective study decisions.

    “Students greatly vary how effective they are in steering their own learning, but generally, students have difficulty monitoring their learning and making effective study decisions.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The cues that students use are often not diagnostic of their actual learning.

    “Unfortunately, the cues that students use are often not diagnostic of their actual learning.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A second threat to monitoring and regulation accuracy is a selection problem; when diagnostic cues are available but not used by students.

    “A second threat to monitoring and regulation accuracy is a selection problem; when diagnostic cues are available but not used by students.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Multimedia environments provide digital functionality to incorporate cue prompts and to provide feedback on the quality of the cues generated.

    “Multimedia environments provide digital functionality to incorporate cue prompts, but also to provide feedback on the quality of the cues generated.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A mobile phone application can provide a summary of relevant data and analyze the discrepancy between students' reflection and actual learning.

    “If students, for example, at the end of a study day are asked to reflect on the quality of their learning, a mobile phone application can provide a summary of relevant data (e.g., length of study sessions, quality of summaries, and quiz performance) and analyze the discrepancy between students' reflection and actual learning.”
6 of 6

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Metadata

Authors
de Bruin, A. B. H., & van Merriënboer, J. J. G.
Venue
Learning and Instruction
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-10
Volume
51
Pages
1-9
ISSN
0959-4752 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2710084815
Cited by
146
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5
FWCI
14.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Learning and Instruction (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Strategies and Epistemologies
Keywords
cognitive load theory, student self-regulation, diagnostic cues, cognitive effort, learning monitoring, instructional design, lifelogging, research agenda

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