Think at GC: The Metacognition Project

There are three phases to metacognition and working on developing skills in each of these areas can be of great benefit to students as they build their metacognitive awareness and skill. See below for some prompts and questions you can ask yourself to better regulate your learning.

Phase I: Planning

• What is the nature of my task?
• What is my goal?
• What information, resources, and strategies do I need?
• How much time will I need?

Phase II: Monitoring

• Do I have a clear understanding of what I am doing?
• Does the task make sense?
• Am I reaching my goals?
• Do I need to make changes to my plan?

Phase III: Evaluating

• Have I reached my goal?
• What worked?
• What didn't work?
• What would I do differently next time?

Studying is one of the main skills that many students struggle with as they transition to college. To help to build this vital skill for students, the Study Cycle below will help you structure your out-of-class time and achieve mastery of the material. You should plan on scheduling 1-2 of these sessions per day.

Step 1: Plan (1-2 minutes)

• Set a specific goal for what you want to achieve in the session

Step 2: Study (30-50 minutes)

• Use effective study strategies to deeply engage with the material. This could include things like concept maps, reading for comprehension, work problems, and more.
• Remember to engage in critical thinking by asking: Why? How? What if?

Step 3: Break (5-10 minutes)

• Step away from the table or desk. Clear your mind.

Step 4: Recap (5 minutes)

• Summarize what you have just studied and wrap up the session

After you are finished, choose to continue studying, take a longer break, or change tasks or subjects and start a new session.