Sunday, January 20, 2013

Metacognition Study Guide

Metacognition Study Guide

Objectives:
     Define metacognition and explain its role in learning.
     Determine the impact of development on metacognition.
     Consider ways to enhance your own and your future students’ metacognition

Key Terms:

Pages 327-336

Metacognition – Knowledge about our own thinking process

Three kinds of metacognitive knowledge:
            Declarative metacognitive knowledge – Our understanding of how we learn and what we know
            Procedural metacognitive knowledge – our understanding of how to use various learning strategies. Do I know how to take notes? Do I know how to summarize the reading?

            Self-regulatory metacognitive knowledge – Our understanding of when to apply the strategies and knowledge at our disposal. When to use the skills

Three metacognitive skills:
            Planning – involves deciding how much time is spent on a task, what strategies we will use, what resources will help, how to start the task, what order to go in, and so on.

            Monitoring - the real time awareness of “how am I doing.” It asks questions such as “Is this making sense? Am I going too fast? Do I need to study longer?”

            Evaluating – making judgments about the process and outcome of thinking and learning. Ask questions such as: “Do I need to change strategies? Do I need help? So I stop now? Is this project finished?”

Learning strategies – ideas, or a plan, for accomplishing learning goals

Learning tactics – the specific techniques used that will make up the plan

Concept map – a drawing that captures the relationship between ideas AKA: webs

READS – A five step reading strategy. Stands for: Review headings and subheadings; Examine boldface words; Ask, “What do I expect to learn?”; Do it – Read! Summarize in your own words.

KWL – a strategy that guides general reading and inquiry. What do I already know about this subject? What do I want to know? At the end of the reading or inquiry, what have I learned?

Focus some time on Guidelines: Becoming an Expert Student
·         Have necessary declarative knowledge
o   Have definitions near you as you study
o   Review facts and concepts before reading new material
·         What type of assessment will be given? (short answer, essay, etc.)
o   For essay answers, practice writing answers to possible questions
o   For multiple choice use mnemonic devices to learn definitions
·         Are you familiar with the organization of the materials?
o   Preview headings, subheadings, introductions, topic sentences, summaries, etc.
o   Be alert for words that signal relationships: on the other hand, because, first, second, however, since, etc.
·         Understand and know your own cognitive skills
o   Use examples related to new material that will relate to something you care about and understand well.
o   Test out different strategies
·         Make sure to study the right information the right way
o   Know what topics and readings will be covered on the test
o   Spend time on the important, difficult and unfamiliar material
o   Keep tabs of the information that you find most challenging. Spend more time studying these readings.
o   Use your own words and create mnemonics, images, examples, questions, and notes to process information.
·         Monitor your comprehension
o   Ask yourself questions to test your understanding
o   If a problem while reading, ask yourself if it is important. If it is mark it so that you can reread it or get help to understand it.
o   Form a study group and quiz each other

Summary:
The three skills used to regulate thinking and knowing are: planning, monitoring, and evaluating. Learning strategies are plans that outline how to accomplish a goal and learning tactics are the specific techniques we will use to accomplish that goal. The book also discussed several procedures for developing learning strategies. It mentioned mnemonic devices such as READS and KWL. It then outlined guidelines of how to apply learning strategies that teachers could use as well as how we could teach our students these strategies.


Application Questions:

1.    What learning tactics will you utilize in this course?
a.    Using mnemonics devices to remember key terms
b.    One challenge I have is reading every single word of the text. I tend to start out reading every word but after a while I skim and skip ahead. One thing I want to focus on this semester is reading every single word
c.    Outline Notes
d.    Make my own tests
e.    Think aloud
f.     Organize my study time and study area and stick to it.

2.    How will you improve your students’ declarative, procedural, and self-regulatory metacognitive knowledge? Include ideas for each type of knowledge in your response.
a.    Declarative – I will teach the students various learning strategies. Students will then take an assessment that will help provide strategies that may work for them. Students will then research one of those strategies and choose one they fill would fit them best.
b.    Procedural – Next I am going to ensure that the students know how to use these strategies and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the strategy. Students will split up into groups based off of the strategies. Students will then present to the class how the strategy is used and what the strengths and weaknesses of the strategy.
c.    Self-Regulatory – Last I will have the students use these strategies throughout the semester. We will discuss when to use them and re-evaluate their progress and make changes as needed.  

3.    How will you help your students plan, monitor, and evaluate their learning?
a.    Have the student explain how they came to an answer
b.    Reflective journals (last 10 minutes of class to write about what they had learn and how it applies to their life)
c.    Learning strategy assessment – then students outline how they will use that strategy for the first test. After the first step we evaluate and make changes (continue for each test).
d.    Have students create their own blog that allows them to post their reflections as well as reflect and comment on other classmates reflections.  

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