DIFFERENCE IN SELF-REGULATED LEARNING AMONG LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Online learning is being widely used in higher education. Self-regulated learning which is learning that is guided by meta-cognition, strategic action and motivation is the main variables that explains students’ performance in online learning. The study explore the use of eLearn@USM as the online learning platform in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) as one of the leading higher institution in Malaysia.

In any technology implementation, there are challenges that need to be addressed. One of the issues are the low rate of student accessing this platform, and therefore there is a need to examine the factors that promotes and hinders the usage. Previously, there was a study on how USM student’s self-regulate their learning in an online learning environment (Phung, 2011). Therefore, initiated from the research, the level and perception of self-regulated learning that focus on motivation in the use of eLearn@USM among local and international students was explored in this preliminary study.

The research design of this study is qualitative and based on case study methodology. Data collection method is interviews with two local students and two international students. The result showed that international students are mostly influenced by intrinsic motivation which eventually regulate their study in online learning platform, while local students are mostly influenced by extrinsic motivation. The prominent factor of intrinsic motivation is curiosity, where international students are initiated to use the online-learning platform for knowledge inquiry. On the contrary, the prominent factor of extrinsic motivation for local students is reward, where local students are initiated to use online-learning platform to gain extra marks in the courses.

As a preliminary study, it is envisaged that this study shall be beneficial for the university in facilitating effectively the online learning activities through eLearn@USM. In the future, the study will be continued in enlightening other issues associated with the use of online learning environment.