For this topic we explored different definitions and properties of online and blended learning. Then worked out a jambord platform on Communities building strategies and in particular we focused on social icebreakers, metacognitive activities and content-based activities.
In this space I wish to share an example of metacognitive activity applied to two related assignments.
It concern a course in International Project Management (IPM) that I am going to start next week. It is just a 5 weeks course but rather intense (7, 5 credits).
Students will have to deliver a group work (GRU) and an individual work (INL). As said these two assignments are connected.
For GRU students needs to form a group of 5 persons and then they have to decide a topic connected to IPM they wish to work on. It could be for example: risk management, gender, culture, ethics, control, or any other topic relevant for the area (week1). Then each of them will look for a scientific article connected to that topic (week3). Then in the following 2 weeks they will meets to discuss and compare each article and the end they will hand in INL which is an individual assignment and consists in developing an essay bases on the discussion of the 5 articles.
GRU can be seen as a metacognitive activity (at least in my view) in the sense that students are required to meet at least 4 times (one for each week of the course, the first week excluded) and the delivery consists in providing a report of all the activities, decisions, discussion within the group from choosing the topic to the final delivery of GRU (the reporting of activities on article discussion) and of INL.
The delivery of GRU consists then in a series of question to be answered for each group meeting. For example
Report 1 (week2):
Date, time, attendees, absentees if any (incl reason)
Present how your group has planned the upcoming work;
how will you go about choosing a theme and articles
how will you meet for discussions
how will you organize your meetings and how will you resolve conflict
Outline what you will dothe upcoming three meetings
300-500 words
Report 2 (week3):
…
What do you think about this example? Is it a good example of metacognitive activity? In any case, I have to thank my colleague who has initiated me to this activity which I find interesting and will surely propose the format in other courses!
Reference
https://www.globalmetacognition.com/post/metacognition-activities-strategies-the-ultimate-guide
