Lecture on Metacognitive Planning

Introduction to Metacognition

• Presented by Dr. Patrick Cunningham, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
• Part of the Skillful Learning series on metacognition.
• Metacognition involves the knowledge and regulation of our own thinking processes.

Focus on Metacognitive Planning

• Metacognitive Regulation: Intentional plans for effortful mental processing required for learning.
• Metacognitive Planning: Utilizing metacognitive knowledge for upcoming learning experiences (assignments, exams, study sessions, courses).

Setting Goals and Strategies

• Align strategies with learning goals and tasks.
• Consistency with personal learning methods is crucial.
• Planning aids in successful learning—learning should be purposeful, not accidental.

Case Studies: Joe and Sue

• Joe's Plan:
  • Recognized cramming and lack of sleep were detrimental.
  • Created a distributed study schedule: 35 minutes/night for four nights, 1.5 hours for the last two nights.
  • Collected old exams for practice and exploration.
  • Shortcomings:
    • Studies only at night when tired; inefficient use of time.
    • Unclear study goals; not strategic.
    • Lack of diversity in study methods.
• Sue's Plan:
  • Set a specific schedule, studying 1 hour each morning.
  • Focused on problem setup due to past struggles.
  • Created real-world application problems.
  • Planned collaborative study session with a friend.
  • Shortcomings:
    • Didn't address emotional distress and lack of nutrition affecting performance.

Areas for Improvement

• Joe's Plan:
  • Needs more focused goals (use S.M.A.R.T. goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
  • Diversify study methods for better information access.
• Sue's Plan:
  • Address external factors (emotional issues, nutrition).

Strategies for Effective Study Plans

• Use multiple strategies and capitalize on peak cognitive times.
• Address personal problem areas.

Achieving Goals Amidst Distractions

• Concept of "Elephants and Rabbits" by Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman:
  • "Elephants": Major goals needing focused time.
  • "Rabbits": Smaller tasks, should be managed not to interfere with big goals.
  • Suggests managing 2-3 major tasks (elephants) per day.

Summary and Recommendations

1. Intentional Metacognitive Planning:
   • Engage in purposeful learning.
   • Set SMART goals.
2. Align Goals and Strategies:
   • Use personal metacognitive insights.
   • Diversify and enrich learning strategies.
3. Focus on Elephants:
   • Dedicate distraction-free time to major goals.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to apply these strategies for better learning experiences.
• Emphasis on intentional learning and strategic planning.