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Diane Balanovich's picture

metacognition

I first heard about metacognition in my early years of college. Metacognition to me is when one is attempting to complete a task and they develop a plan, maintatin and monitor that plan, and then evaluate what they have done. This of course happens at a quick rate but, it is the constant questioning on oneself while completing or engaging in a task.  Inquiry and metacognition are linked by the knoweldge of using inforamtion and continually refining the information.   The effect on instruction would lead to studnets who are problem solvers and who are active learners within their environment. It would lead to more interesting and engaging envolvement thoughtout the class. I think that with direct modeling of developing a plan, monitoring, and evaluating  they could develop their metacognative skills to adapt to all situations. Most people self evaluate but maybe in not sure a structured or detailed manner, but developing these skills one would become a better life long learner.

Do you think that posting something like this would be valuable to the students?

Before - When you are developing the plan of action, ask yourself:

  • What in my prior knowledge will help me with this particular task?
  • In what direction do I want my thinking to take me?
  • What should I do first?
  • Why am I reading this selection?
  • How much time do I have to complete the task?

During - When you are maintaining/monitoring the plan of action, ask yourself:

  • How am I doing?
  • Am I on the right track?
  • How should I proceed?
  • What information is important to remember?
  • Should I move in a different direction?
  • Should I adjust the pace depending on the difficulty?
  • What do I need to do if I do not understand?

After - When you are evaluating the plan of action ask yourself:

  • How well did I do?
  • Did my particular course of thinking produce more or less than I had expected?
  • What could I have done differently?
  • How might I apply this line of thinking to other problems?
  • Do I need to go back through the task to fill in any "blanks" in my understanding?

 

Before - When you are developing the plan of action, ask yourself:

 

 

  • What in my prior knowledge will help me with this particular task?
  • In what direction do I want my thinking to take me?
  • What should I do first?
  • Why am I reading this selection?
  • How much time do I have to complete the task?

During - When you are maintaining/monitoring the plan of action, ask yourself:

 

  • How am I doing?
  • Am I on the right track?
  • How should I proceed?
  • What information is important to remember?
  • Should I move in a different direction?
  • Should I adjust the pace depending on the difficulty?
  • What do I need to do if I do not understand?

After - When you are evaluating the plan of action ask yourself:

 

  • How well did I do?
  • Did my particular course of thinking produce more or less than I had expected?
  • What could I have done differently?
  • How might I apply this line of thinking to other problems?
  • Do I need to go back through the task to fill in any "blanks" in my understanding?

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