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Questions students should ask themselves

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Questions students should ask themselves

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A Focus on Teaching: Metacognition - Bing video

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Article - Teaching Students to Drive their brains

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Article - Teaching Students to Drive their brains

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In today's fast-paced world, the ability to think critically and adapt to new situations is more important than ever - making it crucial to develop in our students as early as possible. One key aspect of effective learning and problem-solving is Metacognition, the process of thinking about our own thinking.

To support your students in this, we've tailored nine questions that directly foster these abilities:

1. Is this similar to a previous task?

2. What do I want to achieve?

3. What should I do first?

4. Am I on the right track?

5. What can I do differently?

6. Who can I ask for help?

7. What worked well?

8. What could I have done better?

9. Can I apply this to other situations?

Making these questions part of your students' everyday learning will not only help them develop their metacognitive abilities but also create a more engaging and effective learning environment. So, why do these questions foster Metacognition in students? And how can you implement them in your classroom?

Why is Metacognition important?

Metacognition is defined as the ability to critically analyse how you think. Essentially, it is best thought of as having self-awareness that enables individuals to monitor, reflect on and analyse their performance.

9 questions to improve Metacognition

To help students improve their metacognitive abilities, consider incorporating the following questions into classroom discussions and activities...

Before a Task

By identifying similarities between tasks, students can learn from past experiences and apply previously successful strategies. This helps them avoid making the same mistakes and fosters a more efficient learning process.

During the Task

Instil the habit of self-monitoring in students, empowering them to assess their progress and make real-time adjustments. This practice will lead to better learning outcomes and increased metacognitive awareness.

Urging students to explore alternative methods fosters adaptability and resilience in problem-solving. This question further fosters a Growth Mindset in students, enabling learners to view challenges as opportunities for improvement.

Recognising when help is needed and seeking assistance from peers or teachers can reduce frustration and enhance understanding.

After a Task

Reflecting on successful strategies and identifying areas of strength reinforces positive behaviours and builds self-efficacy. This process allows students to refine their Metacognitive skills for future tasks.

Encouraging students to transfer their learning to new contexts promotes deeper understanding and generalisation of skills. Transfer of learning is a critical aspect of Metacognition, promoting lifelong learning and adaptability.

How do you apply Metacognition in your teaching?

Adding metacognitive strategies to your teaching can help students use the nine questions above more effectively. This enhances their ability to apply these strategies in various situations and subjects. Some practical applications include:

Modelling

Scaffolding

Feedback

Modelling
Demonstrate your own metacognitive processes through think-alouds and self-reflection. For example, you can verbalise your thought process and the metacognitive strategies employed as you work through a problem. This transparency allows students to observe the application of Metacognition in real time, inspiring them to adopt similar practices.

Scaffolding Feedback
Final Thoughts

Metacognition is all about enhancing self-awareness and improving the learning process. By encouraging students to use some of the above questions, they're on a sure path to bolster their Metacognitive skills, fostering better understanding and deeper learning.

For more information on the subject, check out our Metacognition guide, or book our teacher CPD Metacognition workshop.

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9 Questions to Improve Metacognition | Metacognitive Questions

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Metacognition can help boost self-awareness and learning. Here are 9 metacognitive questions students can ask themselves, using a 'Plan, Do, Review' cycle.

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Board configuration signs for Metacognition

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Board configuration signs for Metacognition

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Metacognition and Common Board Configuration Signs docx