A literature review on Self-Regulated Learning and Personal Learning Environments: Features of a close relationship

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between self-regulated learning (SRL) and personal learning environments (PLE) in light of the educational academic literature of the decade 2010-2020. The SRL and PLE concepts have been important in contemporary discussions in educational psychology and educational technology respectively. This study uses a systematized literature review followed by a qualitative analysis of the most cited literature to establish a narrative that highlights and deconstructs the close relationship between learners’ SRL skills, and their capacity to develop and refine their PLE. For this purpose, in this analysis we explore (1) the presence of the PLE concept in the 200 most referenced papers published on SRL, and (2) the relationship between the two concepts, as they appear in the 20 most frequently cited articles that include both of them. Results show that SRL is linked to an educational and mixed perspective on the PLE concept, and that a variety of designs and platforms exist for teaching strategies linking SRL and PLE in educational practices. In-depth analysis suggests a series of features that reveal the influence of SRL in the PLE concept, reflected in the following themes: laying foundations, offering models for interrelated work, extending digital platforms with social networks, extending learning activities with e-portfolios and pedagogical strategies, and extending knowledge by exploring students’ usages and strategies. Conclusions address recommendations for further work to explore these features and the manner in which they can extend the features of the relationship between PLE and SRL.