







































 

 

 

 

 

An Empirical Study on the Data Analytics-

based Self-Regulated Learning Scaffolding 

Model for Primary Students

Han Wang,
1
 Tao Huang,

1
 Jun Tian,

2
 Huali Yang,

1
 

Pengdong Han
3
 

 
1. Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal 

University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China. 

2. School of Information Technology in Education, South China Normal 

University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, China. 

3. Weifang Institute of Education Information, Weifang 261045, 

Shandong, China 

 

Abstract: In the age of Internet Plus, the deep integration of information 

technology into education and individualized instruction have become a 
growing trend in education development. Self-regulated learning is a key 

element of student core competence, but easy to be overlooked in basic 
education. The purpose of this study is to establish the data analytics-

based self-regulated learning scaffolding model for primary students and 

test its results in teaching practice, citing Scaffolding Theory and Zone 

of Proximal Development Theory as its rationale. Research findings 

demonstrate that learning data analytics-enabled self-regulated after-

class learning can help enhance learning outcomes and develop student 
learning strategies. 

Best Evidence in Chinese Education 2022; 11(2):1529-1533. 

Doi: 10.15354/bece.22.ab006 

How to Cite: Wang, H., Huang, T., Tian, J., Yang, H., & Han, P. (2022). An 

empirical study on the data analytics-based self-regulated learning scaffolding 

model for primary students. Best Evidence in Chinese Education, 11(2):1529-1533. 

Keywords: Learning Analytics, Scaffolding, Self-regulated Learning, Learning 

Effectiveness 

 

 



Wang et al. (Wuhan, Guangzhou, & Weifang). Learning Scaffolding in Primary Students. 

BECE, Vol.11, No.2, 2022 1530 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Correspondence to: Tao Huang, Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, 
Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China. E-mail: tmht@mail.ccnu.edu.cn  

Conflict of Interests: None. 
 

© 2022 Insights Publisher. All rights reserved. 

Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the 

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License 

(http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of 

the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed by the Insights Publisher. 

mailto:tmht@mail.ccnu.edu.cn
http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/


Wang et al. (Wuhan, Guangzhou, & Weifang). Learning Scaffolding in Primary Students. 

BECE, Vol.11, No. 2, 2022 1531 

Introduction 

The integration of big data and artificial intelligence into education and teaching is a 

driving force for more scientific and goal-oriented development of learning, teaching, 

and administration. Huge amounts of data have been amassed through expanded appli-

cation of online learning platforms. Learning data mining, analytics, and modeling al-

low teachers to precisely grasp student learning situation and to improve instructional 

efficiency and effectiveness; education administrators can equalize the distribution of 

educational resources. It has been acknowledged in relevant investigations that self-

regulated learning ability is a key component of student core competence and a founda-

tion for further education; and that educational technology can serve as scaffolding that 

supports student after-class learning. How to deploy educational technology as a meas-

ure supporting primary students’ after-class learning? To address this question, we at-

tempted to construct a data analytics-based self-regulated learning scaffolding model 

for primary students and verified its effects on student learning outcomes through ex-

periments. 

Research Methodology 

This study selected two classes taught by the same teacher in X Primary School in 

Ningxia Province to conduct a control experiment. One of the classes was randomly 

chosen as the experimental group and required to use the scaffolding model to carry out 

self-regulated after-class learning; Learning data were also collected from the control 

group, but no intervention was imposed on it. The learning analytics system developed 

by the project team was used as a supporting platform, and an intelligent teaching envi-

ronment was built in X School to track and evaluate student learning activities in and 

after class. Researchers used the questionnaire survey to identify the change in student 

learning attitudes and strategies. The results of the diagnosis and assessment of student 

cognition were used to compare the learning efficacy of the experimental group and the 

control group. The measurement tool was designed by three senior mathematics teach-

ers and the pre- and post-tests were conducted at the beginning and end of the experi-

ment respectively. 

Research Findings 

The Effect of the Scaffolding Model on Learning Out-

comes in Student Self-Regulated Study 

Comparing the results of the diagnosis and assessment of student cognition before and 

after the experiment, we discovered that there was a significant gap in the scores be-

tween the two groups after the experiment. The average post-test score of the experi-

mental group was 12.5 points (against a total score of 100 points) higher than that of the 

control group, and the difference reached a significant level (t = 3.558, p < 0.05). Look-

ing at the score change among students with different pretest results, we found that 



Wang et al. (Wuhan, Guangzhou, & Weifang). Learning Scaffolding in Primary Students. 

BECE, Vol.11, No. 2, 2022 1532 

scores of medium- and lower-level students increased, whereas those of high-achieving 

students declined. 

The Effect of Scaffolded Self-Regulated Learning on 

Student Learning Strategies 

The learning strategies of students in the experimental group significantly changed after 

the experiment. Specifically, student cognitive strategies and resource management 

strategies improved remarkably; the average score of metacognitive strategies rose 

slightly, but the increase did not reach a significant level.  

In addition, this study also ascertained a positive correlation between test score 

improvement and the level of learning strategies (r = 0.204, p < 0.05). In other words, 

students with higher levels of learning strategies could achieve better learning results in 

scaffolding-based self-regulated study. 

The Impact of Student Learning Attitudes and Self-

regulated Learning Process on the Outcomes of Scaf-

folding-Supported Study 

The questionnaire was designed to survey student learning attitude improvement in 

three dimensions: emotion, cognition, and behavior. According to the pretest results, the 

average score of student learning behavior was relatively low, while those of student 

learning emotions and cognition were slightly higher. The results of the matched sam-

ples t-test indicated that student learning attitudes did not improve significantly after the 

experiment; and that there were considerable gaps in pretest results among students of 

low, medium, and high levels of learning attitudes [F (2, 47) = 3.282, p = 0.046], while 

the gaps were significantly closed in the posttest [F(2, 47) = 0.774, p = 0.467], probably 

due to the fact that in the highly structured scaffolding-based self-regulated learning, 

student behavior and learning paths are less likely affected by objective attitudes.  

Discussions and Conclusions 

Scaffolded Self-Regulated Study Based on Data Analyt-

ics can Improve Student Learning Results 

Examining student performance before and after the experiment, we discovered that the 

scaffolding model can effectively promote student cognitive development. In self-

regulated after-class learning, the proper use of learning analytics system to obtain 

feedback on learning results and impose timely intervention in the learning process can 

significantly improve student learning efficiency and boost student cognitive develop-

ment. Appropriate learning material organization has a positive effect on the outcomes 

of self-regulated learning, and students should follow the sequence of learning-practice 

in the self-regulated after-class study. 



Wang et al. (Wuhan, Guangzhou, & Weifang). Learning Scaffolding in Primary Students. 

BECE, Vol.11, No. 2, 2022 1533 

Scaffolded Self-Regulated Study has a Positive Influ-

ence on Student Learning Strategies. 

Scaffolded self-regulated study can upgrade student learning strategies because the 

dashboard of the scaffolding can visualize learning analytics results and present them to 

students in time. When students are regularly updated on their learning progress and 

provided with corresponding improvement suggestions, their learning motivation, con-

fidence, and efficacy will be enhanced, which help students clarify their learning goals 

and modify their learning process. 

Individual Characteristics of Students and Learning 

Paths can affect the Outcomes of Scaffolded Self-

Regulated Learning. 

The outcomes of scaffolded self-regulated learning vary among students of different 

original academic levels. This learning model is more effective to students of medium 

and low academic levels, while high achieving students can adjust their learning strate-

gies by themselves. 

In addition, scaffolded self-regulated learning can mitigate the negative impact 

of learning attitudes on student learning results. In the dashboard-based individualized 

learning, learning attitudes have no significant influence on learning results, because the 

system formulates personalized learning paths for students and provides corresponding 

learning resources, and the scaffolding model helps standardize the processes of self-

regulated learning for students. 
 

 

 

 

The Chinese version of this article has been published in Journal of E-Education Research, 

2022,43(5): 8. The English version has been authorized for being publication in BECE by the 

author(s) and the Chinese journal. 

 

王涵, 黄涛, 田俊, 杨华利, 韩鹏东.基于学习分析的小学生自主学习脚手架模型及实证研究. 

电化教育研究, 2022,43(5): 8.  

 

 

Received: 27 June 2022 

Revised: 10 July 2022 

Accepted: 14 July 2022 

 

 

 

 

 


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