“Learning to Learn”- How Metacognition Promotes Empowered Veterinary & Nursing Students
Metacognition refers to the awareness and understanding of one's cognitive processes, including thinking, learning, and problem-solving. In educational contexts, metacognition plays a crucial role in self-regulated learning, as individuals who possess strong metacognitive skills are better equipped to plan, monitor, and evaluate their learning strategies and academic performance. Overall, metacognitive skills facilitate effective learning and problem-solving, enabling individuals to adapt their cognitive strategies to different tasks and challenges.
The Metacognition Design Framework is an evidence-based framework that scaffolds teaching, learning and assessment strategies supporting metacognitive skill development in students through blended learning, supported by the virtual learning environment (VLE). This framework has been effectively trialled in a variety of educational settings within University College Dublin, including Veterinary Medicine, with very positive findings.
This workshop will introduce our Metacognition Design Framework and ‘I-SEE' learning strategies, highlighting the key features of this learning design and offering evidence of its potential impact on university education. The workshop will explore the use of metacognitive techniques in veterinary education, equipping delegates with the necessary tools to enhance and support metacognitive skill development in their teaching. This workshop will enable participants to employ 'I-SEE' learning strategies to integrate declarative and procedural knowledge, fostering the development of conceptual understanding in students.
Participants will actively engage in hands-on activities through the use of a clinical skills case study, gaining practical experience in applying the I-SEE approach within clinical skill development settings. They will learn how to incorporate the I-SEE approach into their teaching methods, drawing on blended learning supported through the virtual learning environment (VLE), to extend this metacognitive influence outside standard class time. Participants will receive ongoing access to "Metacognitive Teaching and Learning Strategies" through the Brightspace Learning Centre, offering them the opportunity to continue exploring and implementing metacognitive strategies at their own pace beyond the workshop through experiential learning.
Learning outcomes for this seminar include:
- Explain the potential for fostering metacognitive approaches within veterinary education
- Demonstrate the ability to incorporate metacognitive strategies into your teaching.
- Apply the Metacognition Design Framework and 'I-SEE' strategies to design and implement learning events that promote metacognitive awareness among veterinary students.
- Develop techniques for fostering a growth mindset supporting iterative learning and reflective practice by integrating metacognitive strategies within reflective exercises and assignments.
- Demonstrate the ability to create cohesive learning experiences that promote metacognitive skill development within the curriculum.
At the end of the seminar, we will welcome you to become a metacognition champion and join our community of practice!
Presenter Bios: