Metacognition: The Key to Acing Courses and Exams

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Metacognition The Key to Acing Courses and
Exams!
Saundra Y. McGuire, Ph.D Director, Center for
Academic Success Adj. Professor, Department of
Chemistry Louisiana State University
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2004 National College Learning Center
AssociationFrank L. Christ Outstanding Learning
Center Award 
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Reflection Questions

• Whats the difference between an excellent
  physician and a mediocre physician?
• What is the difference, if any, between studying
  and learning? Which, if either, is more
  enjoyable?

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Desired outcomes

• You will analyze your current learning strategies
• You will understand the difference between
  meaningful learning and rote memorization
• You will have concrete strategies to use during
  the remainder of your academic career, and you
  will USE them!
• You will see become a more efficient learner

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The Story of Four LSU Students

• Robert, freshman chemistry student
• 42, 100, 100, 100
• Amy, junior organic chemistry student
• 54, 82, 76, 78
• Michael, senior pre-medical organic student
• 30, 28, 80, 91
• Terrence, junior Bio Engineering student
• GPA 1.67 cum, 3.54 (F 03), 3.8 (S 04)

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Date of Final Exam December 14, 2005 Meeting
with Student No. 1 December 12, 2005 Meeting
with Student Nos. 2 4 December 2, 2005 Meeting
with Student No. 3 December 8, 2005 The final
was worth 100 points with a 10 bonus question.
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Als Cumulative Exam Record Pursuing Ph.D. in
Chemistry
2004 2005 9/04 Failed 10/04 Failed 11/04 Fail
ed 12/04 Failed 1/05 Passed 2/05 Failed 3/05 Faile
d 4/05 Failed
2005 2006 10/05 Passed 11/05 Failed 12/05 P
assed best in group 1/06 Passed 2/06 Passed 3/06 F
ailed 4/06 Passed last one! 5/06 N/A
Began work with CAS in October 2005
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Reflection Questions

• Whats the difference, if any, between
• studying and learning? Which, if either, is
  more enjoyable? Why?
• Did you study a lot in high school?

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Rote Learning

• Involves verbatim memorization
• (which is easily forgotten)
• Cannot be manipulated or applied to novel
  situations
• (e.g. remembering phone numbers, dates, names,
  etc.)

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Meaningful Learning

• Learning that is tied and related to previous
  knowledge and integrated with previous learning
• Can be manipulated, applied to novel situations,
  and used in problem solving tasks
• (e.g. comparing and contrasting the Arrhenius
  and
• B-L definitions of acids and bases.)

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Meaningful learning is a continuous, ongoing
process repetition is the key. let it soak
in
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This pyramid depicts the different levels of
thinking we use when learning. Notice how each
level builds on the foundation that precedes it.
It is required that we learn the lower levels
before we can effectively use the skills above.
Blooms Taxonomy
Evaluation
Graduate School
Making decisions and supporting views requires
understanding of values.
Combining information to form a unique product
requires creativity and originality.
Synthesis
Identifying components determining arrangement,
logic, and semantics.
Analysis
Undergraduate
Using information to solve problems transferring
abstract or theoretical ideas to practical
situations. Identifying connections and
relationships and how they apply.
Application
Restating in your own words paraphrasing,
summarizing, translating.
Comprehension
High School
Memorizing verbatim information. Being able to
remember, but not necessarily fully understanding
the material.
Knowledge
Louisiana State University ? Center for Academic
Success ? B-31 Coates Hall ? 225-578-2872 ?
www.cas.lsu.edu
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Tips to remember...

• Use daylight hours wisely!
• 1 day light hour
• about 1 1/2 evening hours.

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Using Metacognition to Become an Expert Learner
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Metacognition

• The ability to
• think about thinking
• be consciously aware of oneself as a problem
  solver
• to monitor and control ones mental processing

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Turning Yourself into an Expert Learner

• Do think aloud exercises
• Constantly ask yourself why and what if
  questions
• Move your activities higher on the Blooms
  taxonomy scale by comparing and contrasting,
  thinking of analogies, thinking of new pathways,
  etc.
• Always test your understanding by verbalizing or
  writing about concepts practice retrieval of
  information

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Study Strategies Gold Nugget

• The Study Cycle with
• Intense Study Sessions

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The Study Cycle
Phase One Read or preview chapters to be
covered in class before class (Create
chapter maps) Phase Two Go to Class. Listen
actively, take notes, participate in
class Phase Three Review and process class
notes as soon as possible after class Phase
Four Incorporate Intense Study
Sessions Repeat
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Intense Study Sessions

• 2 - 5 minutes Set goals for next 40 min.
• 30 - 40 minutes Read text more
  selectively/highlight
• Make doodles/notes in margins
• Create mnemonics, work examples
• Create maps
• 5 minutes Review what you have just studied
• 10 minutes Take a break
• Repeat

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Get the Most Out of Homework

• Start the problems early--the day they are
  assigned
• Do not flip back to see example problems work
  them yourself!
• Dont give up too soon (lt15 min.)
• Dont spend too much time (gt30 min.)

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Get the Most from Tutorial Centers, Office Hours,
Study Groups

• Try to understand the concept or work the problem
  by yourself first
• Come prepared to ask questions
• Explain the material to the tutor or instructor

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Other Techniques to Try Immediately

• Concept Mapping
• Practice Retrieval
• List Concepts and Practice Teaching
• ________ ______ _______
• ________ ______ _______
• Write test questions at higher levels of Blooms

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Create a Chapter Map
Title of Chapter
Primary Headings
Subheadings
Secondary Subheadings
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Compare and Contrast
Strong Acids
Weak Acids
How are they similar?
How are they different?
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Helpful WebsitesVisit them soon!!!

• www.cas.lsu.edu
• www.drearlbloch.com
• www.howtostudy.org
• www.vark-learn.com

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• The LSU Dental School First Year Class
• An Amazing Success Story!
• Metacognition Discussion August 13, 2004
• Histology Exam August 23, 2004
• Previous class averages 74 77
• Challenge to class on August 13 84 average
• Reported average on August 24 85!

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• Challenge to Meharry Medical Students
• Metacognition Discussion Nov. 29, 2006
• Current GPA or class average
• Challenge for Fall semester GPA D 0.5
• Actual average ???
• Celebration TBA!!!

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Writing Exercise

• What behavior will you change
• for the next three weeks?

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If you dont try it in within the next 48 hours...

• you probably never will.

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Final Note

• Please visit our website at www.cas.lsu.edu.
• We have on-line workshops and information that
  will teach you more effective study strategies. I
  wish you a fantastically successful future!
• Dr. Saundra McGuire