One thing about living on a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that you can count on is the late arrival of mail. I just received May 2006 Phi Delta Kappan and read “What is Metacognition?”
Author Michael Martinez states that metacognition is not just simply “thinking about thinking,” but rather the ‘monitoring and control of thought.”
He goes on to talk about Vygotsky’s theory of higher-order thought in which Vygotsky taught us that higher-order thinking begins simply as social discourse, or conversations, and these conversations internalize over time and experience.
The internalizations of these social interactions allow us to process thought, weigh opinions, debate within our own minds, finally problem solving by selecting and making good decisions. Though Socratic dialogue in face-to-face classrooms is not new, online learning environments are.
How can we incorporate metacognitive activities in online learning using social media tools?
Central to higher-order thinking and metacognition are student interactions such as, conversations and dialogues that take place everyday in face-to-face classrooms. But how are metacognitive activities being incorporated in online learning?
By the same methods, dialogues and conversations, only online. Identifying teaching strategies that encourage metacognition to cultivate critical thinking skills and problem solving is an important aspect for online learning.
Most, if not all, Learning Management Systems (LMS) have discussion forums in course modules to provoke higher-order thinking by teasing out ideas, concepts and learning online.
Online faculty should make use of forums and threaded discussions, such as Yahoo! Groups to promote deeper thought about subject matter and guide learners to think critically. Sometimes they can be a 'fly-on-the wall' and at others they need to take the drivers seat to guide learning along.
Conversations in online environments can also utilize many new social media tools widely accepted by the new ‘wired generation.’
How does this ‘constantly-on” generation have conversations? Just take a look at any young person glued to their cell phone. Instant messaging, text messages, My Space, YackPack and Tapped In are a few tools to use in online courses.
Young adults have a need to be connected, to conversate in new ways; so why not use familiar tools that can easily be incorporated into WebCt- Blackboard or Moodle courses.
Find media tools students are using and adapt them to use in your online courses, you might be surprised how much conversation and deeper thought goes into your course.
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