The influence of distance learning during COVID-19 pandemic on student's self-regulated learning in higher education: A qualitative study

While the topic on self-regulated learning (SRL) in the online environment has been investigated considerably, there are few researches on SRL in large-scale distance learning during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVD-19). This research investigated six strategies involved in Zimmerman's SRL framework: goal setting and self-efficacy in forethought phase, task strategies and metacognitive monitoring in performance phase, and self-evaluation and self-satisfaction in self-reflection phase to study the influence of large-scale distance learning on students’ self-regulated learning during COVID-19 pandemic. By in-depth interviews with five Chinese graduates studying in different universities in Japan, it was found that some students’ SRL were negatively influenced in the distance learning during COVID-19 pandemic while some with reported higher level of SRL were less affected. This paper discussed the implication of the findings and concluded with suggestions to promote learners' self-regulated learning in distance learning.