Cap Two, session two, metacognition/reflection

So, the question of the day is--how can I effectively incorporate more reflection and metacognition into my curriculum. Well, as an ITRT, I don't have a class of kids and I can't...at least not on an on-going basis.

However, knowing what I now know about the value of metacognition and reflection, I can more effectively talk to teachers about the possibilities presented by blogging --from what I've already seen I could tell my own stories quite similar to the one told about the middle school students in the Edutopia article. Although I now realize that there really should be far more involved than merely saying, “let’s blog.” 

I particularly like the QAR questions—recognizing the different types of questions.  It seems to me that that document collaboration lends itself quite easily to this type of thinking.  I can imagine a wiki template provided by the teacher asking for questions in each of these categories, and students being responsible for adding say two unique questions –one each in two of the four categories. 

I really thought the Edutopia article was very practical and good.  Unfortunately, again, without a classroom of my own, it was distressing to learn that what I thought would be a good project based learning unit –my Cap. Two lesson, is inadequate in so many ways.  There is no way I can ask a class to spend three to eight weeks on it—I think I’ve asked the teacher for something like five to seven days.  However, I can begin to refine it to incorporate some of the elements we’ve been reading up on.  That is, I can put in a rubric—and I like the idea of one that has grades for content, critical thinking, oral communication, written communication, and technical literacy.  I also like the idea of students establishing benchmarks to and guidelines as to what ought to be completed when—and asking “What do we know?  what do we need to know?” (this from the article by Elaine Blakey) I’ll have to put a bit of thought into how I’m going to incorporate these things, but, I’d better not think too long, this has to be done in fairly short order. 

By the way, will we be looking over the lessons proposed by our classmates? I’m looking forward to getting some feedback on the one I’m working on. 

Also from the Edutopia article:

• To learn collaboration, work in teams.
• To learn critical thinking, take on complex problems.
• To learn oral communication, present.
• To learn written communication, write.
• To learn technology, use technology.
• To develop citizenship, take on civic and global issues.
• To learn about careers, do internships.
• To learn content, research and do all of the above

I’m pleased to say that aside from doing internships, the unit I have planned incorporates each of the elements above.