Assignment 3: Conitive and Metacognitive

PART 1
After reading chapter 7: "Improving your Cognition and Metacognition", I found some great ideas that will help me become a better learner.
First I had to look up the definition of metacognition (The awareness and control of your own learning.) Then I took notes and found things that I plan to use this year in school.


My learning methods are usually the low-level strategies. I rehearse everything, but as i read i found that it is the least effective method. So I must learn the high-level strategies.
So here are some things that i would like to work on;

• Paraphrasing- It is part elaborating. I usually learn word for word what the teacher says, but i should start going home and putting it in my own words, in a way that i can understand.
• Outlines- This is from organization. Instead of scribbling down everything the teacher says all in one paragraph, i think it would be helpful to add headings and subheadings to help me find information faster when i need it.
• Concept maps- Also from organization, it will help me visually see connections between subjects, rather then having to read to find connections.
• I really need to work on my metacognition, planning,monitoring and modifying. I need to start using a planner to write my due dates down and looking at those due dates mark dates and times that i should set aside to work on that material. I really like the attention tracking idea of putting a check mark down every time i feel my attention drifting away.

I do understand that each course requires different learning strategies, what will work in one class may not work in another. For example for math i have to do and redo the questions over and over again, whereas biology i have to rehearse the information. So this chapter helped me broaden my learning techniques.

PART 2

In part 2 we had to complete a survey. After doing the survey I really realized that my main learning technique so far has been memorizing. I will memorize everything! A question in the survey asked me if i would memorize something even if i didn't understand it, and i answered that frequently I do. I realize this is bad because memorization generally only helps me with multiple choice not so much with essays when i have to elaborate in my own words and add my own insight. I should be more prepared for class with questions i have from reading the chapters before they were taught. I should go home and make my own notes, that way it is stopping me from just memorizing what the teacher or the text book say. Now when I summarize and paraphrase I am elaborating and making my own insights.

I also found that I don't generally put any interest in my courses. If i find that they are boring i will try and do as little work as possible. I need to start becoming more interesting in my topics because if I am trying to study something i have no interest in it will be hard for me to keep my attention on it.

Before i took this survey i thought that i generally put alot of effort into my schooling, but after answering that i do not do this to question #18- I make a point of looking at most of the suggested readings that go with the lectures, i realized that i could put more of an effort in trying to be prepared for class.

Part 3

In part 3 we had to read a story.

I feel that this story did speak to me. Even though he had no idea what he was doing he knew that he had to do it. Quitting wasn't an option for him. Because he had an interest in something, it motivated him to want to learn about it. He had a goal and used motivation to reach it. When he accomplished his goal he he felt extreme pride.

Characteristics of a self directed learner:

It spoke to me because like in part 2 i was saying that i didn't have interest in my courses so it was hard for me to keep attention on them, because he had such a strong interest it motivated him to keep going. I believe if he didn't have an interest he would have given up and just bought a boat. It goes to show that if you have a goal you can do anything that seems impossible as long as you have motivation powered by interest.

Self Directed versus Academic learner:

In school i am definitely a academic learner, i will learn something because i have to. I very little have interest in anything i am learning so i try and put little effort into it. I will just try and memorize it just to get through it. I feel it will be important for me to try and learn to be self-directed because it will teach me to motivate my self even when i am doubting. If i set goals and follow them then i will eliminate alot of my unnecessary stress.

Weimers comment: "College should be the time when and the place where students develop prowess as learners"

First i had to define prowess (a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation).

I agree that different people learn at different rates and in different ways. As a college teachers should be more accepting to that. Some people are visual learners while others just need to hear it once. The college should adapt to both those needs and learn to not only talk during lectures, but hand out notes and make notes on the board.