With an effect size of 1.29, this strategy really packs bang for your buck. The cognitive task analysis method analyzes and represents the cognitive activities that users utilize to perform tasks that require decision-making, problem-solving, memory, attention, and judgement. In other words, it’s teaching students how to think and problem solve. Some of the steps of a cognitive task analysis are: the mapping of the task; identifying the critical decision points; clustering, linking, and prioritizing them; and characterizing the strategies used.

This life-long skill is something that is not inherent; it must be taught and practiced until it almost becomes second nature. Unfortunately, because of the lack of time in the classroom today due to so many curriculum areas to be covered, much of the focus on these steps has fallen by the wayside.

It is critical that every teacher, regardless of subject matter, help students learn how they learn and how they can improve that process. We all know that the future requires the ability to constantly learn new things. But this cannot be accomplished without strong cognitive skills.