Building Independent Learners: The Role of Guidance and Counseling in Developing Self-Regulated Learning

• Herlin Novianti

  Indonesia University of Education

  Author

Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) is a key competency for students to become independent learners, achieving academic goals and adapting to lifelong learning challenges. School Guidance and Counseling (GC) services play a crucial role in supporting students' development of SRL through targeted interventions. This literature review examines the role, strategies, and effectiveness of GC in fostering SRL, offering practical implications for school counseling services. SRL involves active self-direction of cognition, motivation, and behavior through planning (goal setting), management (cognitive and metacognitive strategies), monitoring, and self-evaluation. Evidence links strong SRL to improved academic achievement. GC services integrate SRL development via classroom guidance, group sessions, and individual counseling using strategies such as time management training, SMART goal setting, metacognitive skill-building, and motivation enhancement. Group counseling provides collective support, while individual sessions offer tailored interventions. Counseling approaches like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Counseling are relevant for promoting adaptive beliefs and behavioral change. Research indicates that effective GC interventions enhance SRL and academic discipline, supported by collaboration between counselors and teachers and adequate counselor competence. The review concludes that GC is essential for building independent learners and recommends a proactive approach that incorporates SRL into core curricula, increased counselor training, and the use of technology to monitor students’ progress.

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