Metacognition

Boys' Preparatory staff enjoying the collaborative learning experience

"Metacognition" is one of the latest buzz words in educational psychology, but what exactly is metacognition?
The length and abstract nature of the word makes it sound intimidating, yet it's not as daunting a concept as it might seem. We engage in metacognitive activities every day. Metacognition enables us to be successful learners and educators. Metacognition refers to higher order thinking which involves active control over the cognitive processes engaged in learning. Activities such as planning how to approach a given learning task, monitoring comprehension, and evaluating progress toward the completion of a task are metacognitive in nature.

As metacognition plays a critical role in successful learning, it is important to study metacognitive activity and development to determine how our boys can be taught to better apply their cognitive resources through metacognitive control.

"Metacognition" is often simply defined as "thinking about thinking." The Boys' Prep staff all embraced this concept together with an interactive Nearpod driving TASC (Thinking Actively in a Social Context) workshop facilitated by Mr Howard. The session aimed to up skill staff, invigorate our teaching and creates a greater understanding of placing the "talk into action".

Together with TASC, we also focused on Thinking Maps, Habits of Mind and Edward de Bono's Thinking Hats & Creativity. Each of these concepts adds to what we believe to be the learning experience which will actively engage and appeal to our boys. Learning is extremely fun and allows for each boy to further develop his metacognition.
The setting for this interactive and collaborative workshop was our new Ntsika room. The centre pillar reflecting the painted fruit of the spirit tree together with the new technology and seating with its modern, vibrant and inviting look added to a rich learning and experimental environment – an environment which our boys are sure to enjoy.