Metacognition: Hack Student Performance And Increase Motivation

By Oskar Cymerman | @focus2achieve | BAM! Radio Network & Teaching Channel Blogger

Marie Forleo I love you!

I know. I'm a married man and I should not be exclaiming such things to 1000s of people.

Relax. I love my wife more.

What I'm talking about is the insight, inspiration, and ideas I get whenever I open my email and watch a new quirky, goofy, never boring Marie TV episode. The latest one "The Secret to Staying Motivated — Especially When You’re Not Seeing Results" inspired me to write this post and create the infographic on Hacking Performance below.

As the school year started for some and quickly approaches for the rest of us, I thought it'd be fitting that we talk about student motivation and performance.

If you're a teacher you undoubtedly encounter students who despite their best efforts have a difficulty staying motivated or reaching learning goals you set for them or they set for themselves. They are capable, but underperform. They can do it, but struggle to find meaning in "doing the work." They have what it takes, but don't produce...

There are many pieces to this puzzle, the completion of which requires the "whole child approach," and today I want to give you a big fragment I hope you'll find useful in helping students perform better, find more meaning, and reach learning goals.

It's all about the approach. And Metacognition. And it works with adults too. Check it out!

I suppose Metacognition translates to a "Psych" in student lingo. A "psych" is a way to mentally figure something out and put yourself in the right frame of mind to perform to your best ability.

The Hacking Performance strategy above really is a "psych" then, because you are tricking your mind into thinking big deal projects aren't that big if you focus on the process - doing one small chunk at a time.

Does it work? Research says it does!

So...

Do it with your students. Psych them out!

Because You Have The Power To Change The World. Use It Often.

Oskar

PS. And later, when you see results, say this to them, but only in your mind: Psych!

PS2. If you appreciate metacognitive learning strategies such as the one above, consider buying my book "Crush School: Every Student's Guide To Killing It In The Classroom" available for Kindle on Amazon. It contains 24 metacognitive strategies to help students learn anything and will change the way you teach forever. And, if you don't find it useful, contact me at oskar.cymerman@gmail.com and I'll give you a full refund.

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Who Am I Project: Build Classroom Community From Day 1

Hey!

I think I did it backwards. Or maybe not - you be the judge. Either way, no harm done. I'm flexible.

If you saw my Class Intro Infographic I released on Tuesday you saw how I plan to introduce my chemistry class this year. The lesson is still the same, so check it out, but I realized that I don't want to talk about the class at all the first day or two. At least not on my own initiative. If students ask? I'll answer. Otherwise I'll stay mum.

Instead, I'll wait with the Class Intro Infographic and show the Who Am I one below instead.

You see, it's important to me to find a little bit about my students right away. Let them take center stage and create an infographic or a different "beyond PowerPoint" digital piece about themselves and put it on the class blog the first week of school.

By doing this each student creates a permanent product that features him or her as a member of our class community. As a result, community building starts on day 1 of class. Students get to learn about each other in a more profound way.

Think about it. If I spend 10 minutes talking about myself, how much will the students remember? If I do some sort of an icebreaker, have them walk around with a sheet of paper and fill it out etc., how much will they remember about others they've talked to?

Not much I conceive.

But... I've decided to Starbucks My Room this year. The space I teach in is flexible and optimized for collaboration (or will be soon - furniture and paint is on the way!). That gives me more options in how I structure learning and allows students to choose how they learn. And I have to use the advantages the space offers from day 1.

So, instead of beginning the year talking, I'm starting with a project. Each student will make their own "Who Am I." Then we'll throw each product onto the blog. And then share it with the world (families, staff, and everyone else who stumbles upon our little piece of Web real estate.

Hey, this will be a year of a lot of firsts for me. First time for #StarbucksMyRoom. First time 100% blended learning. First time running a class blog. First time trying Genius Hour. First time...

I'm deliberately placing myself out of my comfort zone. No, that's wrong... I'm expanding my comfort zone.

It's because life is too short to last long (anybody else think that song lyric is somewhat redundant? - just sayin').

Thanks for looking and reading. I hope you can use a few ideas I present here. If you'd like more or want to see the Syllabus Infographic SIGN UP for MY NEWSLETTER as I will feature it soon!

And Never Forget: YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD. USE IT OFTEN.

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Class Intro Infographic: The Swag Way To Show & Tell

Show and Tell (according to Dictionary.com)

noun

1. an activity for young children, especially in school, in which each participant produces an object of unusual interest and tells something about it.

2. Facetious. any informative presentation or demonstration, as to introduce a new product or divulge and explain a special plan.

Show and Tell Infographic (according to Focus2Achieve)

TRUTH BOMB: Teachers Tend To Overwhelm Students On The First Day Of School.

Guilty. I have done it many times. I know many students are simply freaked out on day 1. It's a natural reaction to the shock of being thrown out of their summer routine, confined to a seat, and being talked at all day in classes they may perceive as dull, difficult, or both.

And hey, while I cannot change what other teachers in the building will do on September 6, I can change. So, I am changing how I approach day 1 and week 1. There! GETTING. IT. DONE.

Why The Infographic?

1. Brevity

I could spend the entire 55 minutes of class time talking at students. Wonder how soon most would "check out"... I could overload them with information they will not remember, that will increase their anxiety, and possibly lead them to hate the class and my guts before day 2, because they had 5 teachers just do the same exact thing.

Or, I could give them information in a one-shot visual way, and then have them create something, stand up, interact with each other. Hmm. Tough choice isn't it?

2. Show & Tell With Swag

Look, I still believe that students want to know what the class will be like. But, I've been teaching teens for the past 14 years and I know they do not need to listen to another speech. I am convinced that most politicians are despised (by me anyway), because they talk too damn much. Oh, and they lie too. But I digress...

I am transitioning to Blended Learning this year. Chromebooks, e-Devices, and lots of brainpower usage every day. More on that below.

Undoubtedly, you have seen the 4 Cs prominently figuring in the infographic above. Skill-building will be my emphasis this and every year beyond. I want the students to see what I value and what I want them to focus on to become awesome learners and later professionals. I will use the Steve Jobs quote above to explain how a large and diverse mind library leads to increased creativity and critical thinking and that is why individuals study science (and all the other subjects) even if they do not plan on becoming scientists.

Communication information and links (email, social media, blog etc.) are all given. I plan to have the district tech people put the infographic on my school district website (MORE SWAG) and thus the information will be available to students and the rest of the community at all times. Unless someone breaks the Internet...

3. Community Building Project

As their facilitator, I will ask my students to make digital posters (Google Apps) about themselves and fill them with information such as who they are, their faves (food, music, show, hobby etc.), their pet-peeves, and their strength. The idea is to have students reflect and realize that they are valuable members of our class community and start recognizing each other as valuable contributors to our mutual growth.

As their collaborator, I will make one for myself too. When done, we will upload all of the digital posters to the classroom blog I am setting up, and email the link to parents and staff as class intro. This way we'll engage the parents and other community members right from the start.

NOTE: I am creating a class blog site now and will add the link and the QR Code to the Infographic as soon as I'm done.

4. Novelty

C'mon. You know most teachers will either do a PowerPoint or talk. Maybe show a video. Hopefully a current one. Maybe they will have a 5 minute ice-breaker before they get down to business... Syllabus, Routines, Rules and Consequences!

Please make it stop!

I am ditching the book for good this year. I've always handed one out and rarely used it. Why bother? All of the curriculum is online anyway and students can interact with the multimedia at their own pace. Popcorn reading? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Let's face it. As sad as it is in this day and age, few teachers allow or know how to have students use their phones in class to create. BYOD? Selfies? And on day one? Forget about it!

I say: Let's do it! Day one is actually perfect for setting the stage for Blended Learning, because we are USING THE TECH TO CREATE. And that is how we will use it every day. I'm starting by having students take selfies of each other and add to their posters. Even in high school many students do not know how to use their smartphone to create. No phone? No problem - I got chromebooks and collaboration (Use your imagination or ask in the comments if you want to know more).

And, most people, students included, do not know what infographics are.

5. Extending Beyond

I will make 1 more Intro Infographic similar to the one above and the Personal Info one. This one will be the syllabus and i will also post it on my website and class blog. No paper, no fuss. I say the Internet was invented by Al Gore (really?) and is here to stay...

Thanks for looking and reading. I hope you can use a few or all of the ideas I ramble about here. If you'd like more or want to see the Personal Info (Teacher Intro) Infographic and the Syllabus Infographic SIGN UP for MY NEWSLETTER as I will feature them soon!

And Never Forget: YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD. USE IT OFTEN.

 

Cornell Notes on Steroids Notebook Bundle of 3

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The Cornell Notes on Steroids Notebook is a 8.5"x11" 120-page academic notebook that contains an organizational method that improves on the Cornell Note-Taking System. BUNDLE & SAVE.

Color:

Select Color BlackBluePurpleRainbow (All 3 colors)

Black Blue Purple Rainbow (All 3 colors)

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Cornell Notes on Steroids Notebook Bundle of 6

$18.00

The Cornell Notes on Steroids Notebookis a 8.5"x11" 120-page academic notebook that contains an organizational method that improves on the Cornell Note-Taking System. BUNDLE & SAVE.

Color:

Select Color 6 Black6 Blue6 PurpleRainbow (2 of each color)3 Black/3 Blue3 Black/3 Purple3 Blue/3 Purple

6 Black 6 Blue 6 Purple Rainbow (2 of each color) 3 Black/3 Blue 3 Black/3 Purple 3 Blue/3 Purple

Quantity:

Add To Cart

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