METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES
Metacognitive strategies refer to the techniques and approaches that help students become aware of their own thinking processes and regulate their learning. This teaching strategy focuses on developing students' metacognition, which involves understanding how they learn, monitoring their own learning progress, and making adjustments to improve their learning outcomes. Metacognitive strategies encourage students to reflect on their thinking, set goals, plan their approach to tasks, monitor their comprehension, and evaluate their learning strategies. By teaching students to be aware of their thinking and learning processes, metacognitive strategies empower them to become more independent and effective learners. Students who employ metacognitive strategies are better equipped to identify areas of difficulty, apply appropriate learning strategies, and adapt their approaches to achieve academic success.
Metacognitive Strategies with Technology
1
THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Activity: Virtual Brainstorming
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Use a collaborative digital whiteboard tool like Padlet or Microsoft Whiteboard.
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Assign a topic/question to students and ask them to brainstorm ideas individually.
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Then, pair students up to discuss and refine their ideas.
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Finally, bring the class back together to share the most interesting or innovative ideas on the digital whiteboard.
2
CONCEPT MAPPING
Activity: Digital Mind Map Creation
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Assign a topic or concept to students and ask them to create a mind map digitally, including key ideas and connections.
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Students can collaborate on the same mind map in real-time or create their own individual mind maps.
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Encourage students to add multimedia elements such as images, videos, or links to enrich their mind maps.
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Use a mind mapping tool like MindMeister or Microsoft Visio.
3
PEER TEACHING
Activity: Digital Peer Teaching Exchange
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Assign students a topic and have them prepare a brief presentation for a peer using a digital tool such as Keynote or PowerPoint.
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The presentation should include content information but also process explanations which use visuals (diagrams, photos, animations, video).
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Pair or group students to present their teaching session.
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Encourage peers to ask questions and seek clarification.
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Students can share their presentations to a repository for sharing with the class.
4
THINK ALOUDS
Activity: Video Think Alouds
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Pose a question or ask students to solve a problem.
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Using a digital video platform such as Clips or Flipgrid, have students record a video explaining their understanding or the process that they followed to solve the problem.
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The videos could include the students work as they explain their thinking.
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Share videos with the class and discuss the various strategies.
5
REFLECTIVE EXIT TICKETS
Activity: Digital Exit Tickets
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Use a tool such a Microsoft Forms or OneNote and create some prompts for students to use to reflect on the learning process, challenges faced, strategies employed, and areas for improvement.
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Using OneNote will allow students to choose how they would like to reflect on their learning . They may use text, images, audio, video, drawings etc as a means of explaining their thinking.
6
GOAL SETTING
Activity: Digital Goal Setting and Tracking
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Use a tool such a Microsoft Forms and have students reflect on their current understandings, strengths, challenges, learning preferences etc.
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In OneNote, students can create a "Goal Setting" page. This page will contain the SMART goal that the student is working towards.
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Students might use digital tracking tools such as Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers or the built in Reminders app on their iPad.
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Data gathered in these tools, as well as reflections, can be recorded on the Goal Setting OneNote page.
7
SELF MONITORING
Activity: Using Realtime Data to Monitor Progress
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Students use Microsoft Teams to complete Reading Progress Assignments over time.
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As students complete a reading assignment, return the report to the student for analysis.
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Depending on the reading goal, students may use a tracking tool such as Numbers or Excel to input results from each assignment.
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Over time have students self monitor and reflect on their reading progress and update their reading goals as appropriate.
8
PLANNIING
Activity: Digital Planning
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Students use Microsoft OneNote to break down projects into manageable tasks. They can use tables, checkboxes, diagrams, audio recordings to assist.
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Students may use Apple Numbers to create specific schedules or project breakdowns for collaborative projects.
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Students can plan out the timing for project completion by using the inbuild Calendar on the iPad. They can set dates and reminders to keep them on track.
9
VISUALISATION
Activity: Digital Visualisation
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Students choose a digital tool such as Microsoft Whiteboard or Apple Notes.
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Using these tools like a virtual canvas, students can use features to sketch diagrams, write notes, add sticky notes and create mind maps to help them to capture and visualise their thoughts and understanding.
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These tools can also be used collaboratively to enhance the visualisation process.
10
SUMMARISING
Activity: Digital Binders
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Students choose a digital tool such as Microsoft OneNote or Apple Pages to create their own digital binder - a place where they can summarise and record newly acquired information.
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Students can include sections and headings to help them to structure their summaries.
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They may also choose to include multimedia elements to enhance their summaries.