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Requirements and Expectations
Requirements and Expectations
The Meta-Skill Challenge asks you to experience learning something new and consider how you approach all skill acquisition. The idea is to take an important higher-level skill – metacognition – and develop it by learning a concrete skill in everyday life. Throughout the fall semester, you are presented with a challenge: commit 20 hours to learn a new skill!
At the end of the semester, participants who complete the challenge will be able to demonstrate their selected skill and offer reflections on the process to a panel of judges at our Meta-Skill Showcase. With this expectation in mind, any skill that you choose must be demonstrable: you should be able to show the progress you've made. Be mindful to choose an activity that falls under the following definition of a skill. All skills have both a cognitive component (a certain set of techniques or steps to achieve it) as well as clear, direct, and (preferably) immediate feedback.
Each participant should aim to practice this skill regularly for a minimum of 1-2 hours a week for a total of (at least) 20 hours. The skill should not be directly required for any required class, sports team, or job (consult with the Village Director if you are unsure).
Choosing a Skill
Choosing a Skill
Each active participant should choose a skill by Wednesday, Sept 13th by 11:59 PM to ensure they have enough time to complete the challenge (reasonable accommodations for later submissions for skill selection are possible - just email the Village Director). The chosen skill and interest in participating will be indicated by completing and submitting the Skill Contract Paperwork, and then participants should begin to practice this skill on a regular basis. Some examples of skills are shown below in the list, but students may also discuss their skill selection with the Village Director or Honors Village Fellows.
Possible Skill List
Possible Skill List
Acting/Stand-up Am. Sign Language Baking Coding Creative Writing Craftsmanship
Dancing Drawing Juggling Formal Cooking Gardening Knitting/Crocheting
Memorization techniques Painting Instrument Programming Yoga
And many more...
Deep Practice and the 80/20 Rule
Deep Practice and the 80/20 Rule
How do you learn a skill efficiently and intelligently? In the two reading selections included, researchers in the field of skill development highlight two important aspects to effective skill development: deep practice and the 80/20 rule.
Deep practice involves practicing by struggling in targeted ways, so that one is “operating at the edges of your ability, where you make mistakes [which] makes you smarter.” (Coyne, Talent is Overrated, 2008). Drawn from Swedish psychologist Anders Ericsson's work, this is a distinct mode and style of practicing that focuses on improving technique through regular and ongoing feedback on performance, and perfecting weaknesses.
The 80/20 rule, described here by author Tim Ferris, proposes dividing learning skills into separate chunks and focusing 80% of your time exclusively on learning the most essential 20% of subskills to see quicker and more effective results.
More information on the leading research on skill development can be found on the Research page.
Talent is OverratedTimothy Ferriss Four Hour Chef - Business Insider.pdfStudents are encouraged to fill out the Skill Contract Form (linked above) once they've identified a skill they would like to pursue. Please complete this Meta-Skill Challenge Sign-up/Skill Contract by Wednesday, Sept 13th by 11:59 PM to guarantee eligibility (and potential resources) for the Meta-Skill Challenge Showcase on Friday, Nov. 10th. We will accept contract submissions on a rolling basis and always try to include every student who submits within a reasonable time frame. Video submissions will be due Friday, Nov 3rd. Students unable to attend the final Showcase may still submit video entries.
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