Metacognition | Thinking About Thinking | Science of Learning Series

Summary

This video highlights the importance of metacognition in the classroom, focusing on how teachers like Britney Bush and Jessica Anderson foster student confidence and self-awareness. Metacognition, or 'thinking about thinking,' is a process that includes planning, monitoring, and assessing one's learning. The video emphasizes strategies such as reflective questioning, self-assessment tools like color-coded exit tickets, and private reflection logs. Teachers are encouraged to model metacognition and be patient as students develop these skills, ultimately enhancing their ability to learn and grow through honest self-reflection.

Takeaways

• 😀 Metacognition is the practice of thinking about one's thinking to improve learning and decision-making.
• 😀 Confidence plays a crucial role in student success; both underconfidence and overconfidence can be barriers to learning.
• 😀 Teachers should encourage students to plan, monitor, and assess their learning to enhance their metacognitive awareness.
• 😀 Asking students reflective questions like 'How will you know what you need to learn?' promotes self-awareness and intentional learning.
• 😀 Monitoring involves students questioning their own progress during a task to ensure they are on the right track.
• 😀 Teachers can model metacognitive thinking by thinking aloud while solving problems, showing students how to approach challenges.
• 😀 Exit tickets are a useful tool for assessing metacognitive awareness, with students marking their confidence levels using a color code.
• 😀 Private reflection logs allow students to express struggles and successes, helping teachers track and address learning gaps.
• 😀 Encouraging honest self-assessment, such as rating confidence from red (uncertain) to green (confident), can improve self-awareness.
• 😀 Teachers need to create a classroom environment where students feel safe to be honest about their learning process without fear of judgment.
• 😀 Consistent practice with metacognitive strategies helps students develop long-term skills that enhance their learning outcomes.

Q & A

What is the purpose of Harambee in the classroom?

Harambee is used to set a positive climate at the start of each day, fostering confidence and a positive tone to help students engage with their learning effectively.

How does confidence influence student learning?

Confidence plays a crucial role in student learning. When students believe they can succeed, they are more likely to engage with the material and perform well.

What challenges do Brittany Bush and Jessica Anderson face with their students' confidence?

Brittany and Jessica encounter issues with students either lacking confidence or overestimating their abilities, leading to either missed opportunities for improvement or failure to accurately assess their knowledge.

What is metacognition, and why is it important for students?

Metacognition is the process of thinking about one's own thinking. It involves planning, monitoring, and assessing one's learning, which can significantly improve how students approach tasks and retain information.

What are the three key components of metacognition?

The three main components of metacognition are planning (how to approach a task), monitoring (keeping track of progress while working), and assessing (evaluating the effectiveness of the approach).

How can teachers help students develop metacognitive skills?

Teachers can ask reflective questions to help students plan their approach, monitor their progress, and assess their understanding. Techniques like exit tickets and private reflection logs can help students assess their confidence and understanding.

What is the role of exit tickets in promoting metacognition?

Exit tickets provide a way for students to reflect on their understanding at the end of a lesson. By marking their confidence level, students can assess how well they grasped the material, which allows teachers to address any gaps in knowledge.

How did Brittany Bush use metacognitive questioning in her classroom?

Brittany used metacognitive questioning by prompting students to think about whether their answers were correct, encouraging them to pause and reflect on their thinking process before concluding.

What strategy did Brittany and Jessica implement to encourage metacognitive reflection during class?

Brittany and Jessica implemented a color-coded system where students rated their confidence in their understanding at the beginning and end of the lesson, helping them reflect on their progress and growth.

How does private online reflection help students in the learning process?

Private online reflections allow students to express their struggles, successes, and challenges outside of class time. Teachers can comment on these reflections to address specific issues, promoting self-awareness and continuous improvement.