Blended, self-paced, mastery-based instructional practices help students learn new skills and content. But how can we as teachers help our students become fundamentally stronger learners? That's where metacognition -- defined as "“awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes" -- comes in.
Through regular, metacognitive reflection,
Students develop the study habits and attitudes they need to be successful in school and beyond, and
Teachers give students constructive feedback about student mindsets and behaviors.
It is metacognition that really makes a Modern Classroom special.
By the end of this module, you will:
Reflect on your own learning in this course,
Develop tools that your students will use to reflect on their learning, and
Explain how you will make metacognitive reflection part of your Modern Classroom.
The video below provides more detail about the philosophy and practice of metacognition.
Metacognition can seem like an abstract concept -- these resources can help you translate our pedagogical theories into your own teaching practice.
Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching, "Metacognition" -- An excellent overview of both the philosophy and practice of metacognition, written especially for teachers.
Vancouver Island Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning, "Ten Metacognitive Teaching Strategies" -- A fantastic starting point as you think about how to implement metacognition in your own classroom.
Using your Unit Planning Template,
Answer the reflection questions about your experience in this workshop, and
Explain how you will foster metacognition by your students as part of your Modern Classrooms Unit.
Practice some metacognition, with the survey below!