What are the Benefits of Teaching Students to Think About Their Thinking - Metacognition

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What are the Benefits of Teaching Students to Think About Their Thinking - Metacognition

Metacognition is the ability to think about thinking. When students reflect on their learning they learn better. The same can be said for adults.

Thinking about your thinking and then taking appropriate action is one of the most important skills that students should learn in school. It's a skill that pays off all through adulthood.

Here are some resources to help students build metacognitive skills.

• Some suggestions include pre-assessment surveys, student-generated questions, exit tickets, One-Minute Papers, and exam wrappers.
• Vanderbilt University has a nice resource on putting metacognition into practice.
• Getting Smart shares how metacognition can be fostered through relationship building, Think Alouds, Visible Thinking, and Sharing Ideas.
• Caitlin Tucker describes 4 Strategies Designed to Drive Metacognitive Thinking. Some of these include SMART Goal Setting, End of the Week Exit Tickets, using Flipgrid to Describe Your Process, and using other Self-Assessment Documents.
• Here is one final metacognition resource from the Teaching and Learning Lab. The most interesting thing to me from this page is the idea of using regulatory checklists.

📚 Metacognition Books

• Teach Students How to Learn*: Strategies You Can Incorporate Int Any Course to Improve Student Metacognition, Study Skills, and Motivation
• Think!*: Metacognition-Power Primary Teaching
• The Complete Learner's Toolkit*: Metacognition and Mindset-Equipping the Modern Learner with the Thinking, Social, and Self-Regulation Skills to Succeed at School and in Life