That's so Meta!
A slang phrase that I came across recently is the expression “that’s so meta.” Let’s think about this phrase. Meta is a prefix that roughly means “referring to itself.” So, if you decide to write a book on how to write a book . . . well, “that’s so meta.” Another example is if you are having an argument with someone and you say, “don’t take that tone with me” and the other person says, “don’t raise your voice,” since you are arguing about how to argue – “that’s so meta!”
When I think of the prefix “meta,” the educator in me immediately thinks of the term metacognition. What a great word - “thinking about one’s thinking.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “awareness or analysis of one’s own learning or thinking process” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). John Laskaris, e-Learning Specialist, describes metacognition as
“ . . . an adult learning technique that creates mature and self-reflective learners” (Laskaris, 2015). No matter how you define it, metacognition empowers learners to solve problems on their own.
This newsletter will look at a few examples of how online courses can build on the concept of metacognition to help our learners embrace their own learning process to ensure a successful educational journey.
When I think of the prefix “meta,” the educator in me immediately thinks of the term metacognition. What a great word - “thinking about one’s thinking.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “awareness or analysis of one’s own learning or thinking process” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). John Laskaris, e-Learning Specialist, describes metacognition as
“ . . . an adult learning technique that creates mature and self-reflective learners” (Laskaris, 2015). No matter how you define it, metacognition empowers learners to solve problems on their own.
This newsletter will look at a few examples of how online courses can build on the concept of metacognition to help our learners embrace their own learning process to ensure a successful educational journey.
Pre- and Post-Assessments
One way to help students start “thinking about their own thinking” is to begin a new unit or concept with some sort of pre-assessment. A pre-assessment activity will activate students’ prior knowledge of the subject as well as highlight new information that students will be learning. Seeing connections and gaps between already known material and unknown information will motivate students to add to their knowledge base.
When the lesson or module is complete, a post-assessment provides students an opportunity to evaluate what they have learned, how they learned it, and how their thinking has changed. By taking a deeper look at the educational journey, students will begin to understand how they learn best, reflect on how they built upon already known information, and how their knowledge has expanded since the start of the course (Reading Horizons, 2014).
One way to help students start “thinking about their own thinking” is to begin a new unit or concept with some sort of pre-assessment. A pre-assessment activity will activate students’ prior knowledge of the subject as well as highlight new information that students will be learning. Seeing connections and gaps between already known material and unknown information will motivate students to add to their knowledge base.
When the lesson or module is complete, a post-assessment provides students an opportunity to evaluate what they have learned, how they learned it, and how their thinking has changed. By taking a deeper look at the educational journey, students will begin to understand how they learn best, reflect on how they built upon already known information, and how their knowledge has expanded since the start of the course (Reading Horizons, 2014).
Cases and Scenarios
The ability to solve problems is an essential skill in all occupations. Problem solving requires metacognitive abilities, the skill of “learning how to learn,” in order to come up with solutions. Although very rarely can we put students into real world settings, we can mimic these through cases and scenarios (Laskaris, 2015).
Provide scenarios that require a wide range of skills and let students select the method for solving the problem. One example that comes to mind is when working with students majoring in Education. Ask these future teachers to imagine a scenario where students in their class have a general misunderstanding about homework, a field trip, or other classroom issue. In the case scenario, the teacher must decide on the best way to solve the problem. Don’t tell students what they must do . . . let them decide who to communicate with, how, and then justify why they chose that method.
The ability to solve problems is an essential skill in all occupations. Problem solving requires metacognitive abilities, the skill of “learning how to learn,” in order to come up with solutions. Although very rarely can we put students into real world settings, we can mimic these through cases and scenarios (Laskaris, 2015).
Provide scenarios that require a wide range of skills and let students select the method for solving the problem. One example that comes to mind is when working with students majoring in Education. Ask these future teachers to imagine a scenario where students in their class have a general misunderstanding about homework, a field trip, or other classroom issue. In the case scenario, the teacher must decide on the best way to solve the problem. Don’t tell students what they must do . . . let them decide who to communicate with, how, and then justify why they chose that method.
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Self-Reflections or Journaling
A great way for students to “think about their thinking” is to use regular reflective questions. Reflections can be incorporated into journals, be a part of an assignment, or reflection after the assignment is graded. When students are asked self-reflective questions, such as the ones below, they will be thinking about their own thinking (University of Waterloo, n.d.)
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In Conclusion . . .
Consider metacognitive strategies as you either write or facilitate an online course. The above methods are just a few ways to help learners “think about how they think.” The below references will provide even more strategies for metacognition. It is an empowering skill to be able to understand your own thought process when learning new material, and a skill that hopefully all students will embrace.
Consider metacognitive strategies as you either write or facilitate an online course. The above methods are just a few ways to help learners “think about how they think.” The below references will provide even more strategies for metacognition. It is an empowering skill to be able to understand your own thought process when learning new material, and a skill that hopefully all students will embrace.
References
Chick, N. (n.d.). Metacognition. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Center for Teaching - Vanderbilt University: https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/metacognition/
Dictionary.com. (n.d.). What does meta mean? Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Dictionary.com - Pop Culture: https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/meta/
Laskaris, J. (2015, July 20). Metacognition for Effective Online Learning. Retrieved from Talent LMS: https://www.talentlms.com/blog/metacognition-for-effective-online-learning/
Merriam Webster. (n.d.). Metacognition. Retrieved August 21, 2019, from Merriam-Webster Dictioinary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metacognition
Pappas, C. (2015, June 26). 5 Instructional Design Tips to Enhance Metacognition in eLearning. Retrieved from eLearning Industry: https://elearningindustry.com/5-instructional-design-tips-to-enhance-metacognition-in-elearning
Reading Horizons. (2014, March 19). How to Promote Metacognition in the Classroom. Retrieved from Reading Horizons: https://www.readinghorizons.com/blog/how-to-promote-metacognition-in-the-classroom
Spencer, J. (2018, August 13). Five Ways to Boost Metacognitiion in the Classroom. Retrieved from Empower Your Students with Voice and Choice: http://www.spencerauthor.com/metacognition/
Stack Exchange. (n.d.). When your 10-year old says "It's meta," what does that mean? Retrieved September 23, 2019, from English Language & Usage: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/48576/when-your-10-year-old-boy-says-it-s-meta-what-does-it-mean-in-what-situation
University of Waterloo. (n.d.). Teaching Metacognitive Skills. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Centre for Teaching Excellence: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/metacognitive
Yale. (n.d.). Encouraging Metacognition in the Classroom. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Yale Center for Teaching and Learning: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/sites/default/files/basic-page-supplementary-materials-files/metacognition_handout.pdf
Chick, N. (n.d.). Metacognition. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Center for Teaching - Vanderbilt University: https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/metacognition/
Dictionary.com. (n.d.). What does meta mean? Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Dictionary.com - Pop Culture: https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/meta/
Laskaris, J. (2015, July 20). Metacognition for Effective Online Learning. Retrieved from Talent LMS: https://www.talentlms.com/blog/metacognition-for-effective-online-learning/
Merriam Webster. (n.d.). Metacognition. Retrieved August 21, 2019, from Merriam-Webster Dictioinary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metacognition
Pappas, C. (2015, June 26). 5 Instructional Design Tips to Enhance Metacognition in eLearning. Retrieved from eLearning Industry: https://elearningindustry.com/5-instructional-design-tips-to-enhance-metacognition-in-elearning
Reading Horizons. (2014, March 19). How to Promote Metacognition in the Classroom. Retrieved from Reading Horizons: https://www.readinghorizons.com/blog/how-to-promote-metacognition-in-the-classroom
Spencer, J. (2018, August 13). Five Ways to Boost Metacognitiion in the Classroom. Retrieved from Empower Your Students with Voice and Choice: http://www.spencerauthor.com/metacognition/
Stack Exchange. (n.d.). When your 10-year old says "It's meta," what does that mean? Retrieved September 23, 2019, from English Language & Usage: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/48576/when-your-10-year-old-boy-says-it-s-meta-what-does-it-mean-in-what-situation
University of Waterloo. (n.d.). Teaching Metacognitive Skills. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Centre for Teaching Excellence: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/metacognitive
Yale. (n.d.). Encouraging Metacognition in the Classroom. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from Yale Center for Teaching and Learning: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/sites/default/files/basic-page-supplementary-materials-files/metacognition_handout.pdf