Teachers’ Feedback on the Use of Supplementary Materials for Developing Students’ Self-Regulated Learning and Problem Solving Skills

Transversal skills play an important role in the educational process worldwide and have been paid particular attention in the system of education in Latvia with the introduction of the new competence-based curriculum. Self-regulated learning (SRL), critical thinking and problem solving (PS) skills remain among the most crucial skills at all levels of formal and informal education, as well as in lifelong learning. This requires knowledgeable teachers, equipped with methodological support, guidelines and supplementary materials, that would enable them to professionally advance these skills in their students. The purpose of this study is to analyse teachers’ feedback on the use of supplementary materials aimed at developing students’ PS and SRL skills. The feedback was provided by 57 teachers of Grades 1–6 attending an online teacher professional development (TPD) course on developing students’ SRL skills. The paper also presents a comparative analysis between the results of the current study and the results of an earlier piloting of the supplementary materials. The findings show that students frequently lack sufficient metacognitive skills and highlight that teachers consider supplementary materials to be a useful tool for developing these skills, particularly when accompanied by an appropriate TPD course that deepens teachers’ knowledge of SRL and enhances their competence in developing students’ SRL and PS skills.