Metacognition
Metacognition is the thinking about one’s own mental processes. I feel it is important to practice metacognitive skills because you should always work on thinking deeper about your own mental process, plus, it never hurts to contemplate the universe every once in a while. Explaining yourself is the first step to being wise, so why not elaborate on what you are saying? For example, when talking about biology, just explaining the general topic isn't going to get your point across. You need to really dig deep and explain what you really know, so people know what you're talking about. It is important to practice metacognitive skills because it will improve your literature, which is essential if you plan on doing something that involves reading or writing, or something along those lines. It will also make you a more efficient learner because you will absorb things more quickly. I have experienced success with self-regulation when I taught myself how to tie my own shoes, excluding Velcro. I have also had good experiences with self-regulation when I disciplined myself to do my work outside of school, including this page that I am writing right now. I have had challenges when I attempted to teach myself guitar, which didn't go so well. I plan on increasing my metacognitive abilities by thinking more before I speak and really trying to explain myself more often. I think this will increase my writing and speaking skills, and hopefully make it easier for me to be understood. It will hopefully raise my grade as well, which I have displayed down below in a neat little chart.
Biology Grade
Math Grade
Chorus Grade
Metacognition Quarter 2
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Unfortunately, I have not met my goal for the second quarter, although very close. My grades in the second quarter have made a slight increase since the first quarter. Even so, it is consistently mediocre, seldom showing improvement or lack of improvement. It is about 10 points higher than the first quarter. Since the first quarter wasn’t much to speak of, that isn’t saying anything. My main goal was to finish the class with at least a B. Right now, I have a high C. Obviously, some improvement can be made. This could be improved by going in for help and studying on BB. I could also improve my grade by taking more oral tests, because I seem to learn easier compared to taking written exams. Plus, I get better grades doing oral tests. I believe that Photo Credit: ME my overall metacognitive skills have improved since quarter 1 because I am putting more evidence and reasoning into my bio blogs, and I am getting higher scores overall. An example of this is that during the beginning of the quarter, my blogs were blunt and had little evidence. In later blogs, you will see more evidence and higher scores. This is a result of putting more effort into my assignments. If this continues, hopefully my grade will improve.
Metacognition Semester 2
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My metacognitive skills have improved significantly over the course of the semester. In particular, I have improved the metacognitive skill metamemory. Metamemory is the learner's ability to recall information they have learned and use the correct strategy and approach to solve the problem at hand. To have metamemory you have to be aware of different memory strategies, know which strategy to use for each particular task, and know how to use each strategy effectively. I believe I have improved this skill because in the beginning of the year, I had a hard time retaining information. I wouldn't know a lot of science terminology. When I did recall information, I wouldn't know what strategy to use Photo Credit: ME when given a problem. I wouldn't know how to approach the problem. Over the course of the year I have been studying my terminology more and I am able to retain knowledge more easily. I am also able to recall this knowledge when given a problem. I am able to use divergent thinking to solve real world problems, using the correct strategies to solve these problems. By practicing this skill, I now use metamemory more effectively. I have not only increased my metamemory, but I have improved my divergent thinking as well. By using metacognitive skills, it improves the ability to take your prior knowledge and use it to solve a real problem. I am grateful for being taught about metacognitive skills because I am now able to face the real world; thank you Mr. Patino.
Google Images (Escher) <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=962&bih=582&tbm=isch&tbnid=YeVB6g0hrA-AIM:&imgrefurl=http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2012/02/09/enhance-metacognition-and-problem-solving-by-talking-out-loud-to-yourself/&docid=YAXixxxQ2GNH8M&imgurl=http://www.sharpbrains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Escher-Metacognition.jpg&w=350&h=500&ei=RutlUMWZEompiQK3mIDYDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=286&vpy=172&dur=2817&hovh=268&hovw=188&tx=131&ty=106&sig=101633604460545568724&page=1&tbnh=182&tbnw=113&&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:104>
Google Images (Professor X) <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=962&bih=582&tbm=isch&tbnid=huDShpAF5R0gfM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor_X&docid=mSMjr_YJK6BmJM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c9/Xav-lopr.png/250px-Xav-lopr.png&w=250&h=262&ei=Z-tlUMOaGqX4igKmmYCYDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=111&vpy=84&dur=1159&hovh=209&hovw=200&tx=115&ty=65&sig=101633604460545568724&page=1&tbnh=168&tbnw=142&&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:153>
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Google Images (Megamind) <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=962&bih=582&tbm=isch&tbnid=joya5jhDQWhsQM:&imgrefurl=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/megamind/&docid=iozfFKycBgv-DM&imgurl=http://content.internetvideoarchive.com/content/photos/6780/28479834_.jpg&w=320&h=240&ei=e-xlUL37B-i7igLr4oDoCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=418&vpy=97&dur=21&hovh=192&hovw=256&tx=85&ty=88&sig=101633604460545568724&page=1&tbnh=166&tbnw=227&&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:107>
Google Images (Professor X) <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=962&bih=582&tbm=isch&tbnid=huDShpAF5R0gfM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor_X&docid=mSMjr_YJK6BmJM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c9/Xav-lopr.png/250px-Xav-lopr.png&w=250&h=262&ei=Z-tlUMOaGqX4igKmmYCYDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=111&vpy=84&dur=1159&hovh=209&hovw=200&tx=115&ty=65&sig=101633604460545568724&page=1&tbnh=168&tbnw=142&&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:153>
Google Images (Dr. Evil) <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=962&bih=582&tbm=isch&tbnid=x5ZVhklyCNvSuM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Evil&docid=9QfHWe3hGbTHCM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/16/Drevil_million_dollars.jpg/200px-Drevil_million_dollars.jpg&w=200&h=212&ei=g-tlUO73LeHIiwLC44GACw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=138&vpy=212&dur=401&hovh=169&hovw=160&tx=112&ty=108&sig=101633604460545568724&page=1&tbnh=169&tbnw=155&&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:153>
Google Images (Megamind) <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=962&bih=582&tbm=isch&tbnid=joya5jhDQWhsQM:&imgrefurl=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/megamind/&docid=iozfFKycBgv-DM&imgurl=http://content.internetvideoarchive.com/content/photos/6780/28479834_.jpg&w=320&h=240&ei=e-xlUL37B-i7igLr4oDoCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=418&vpy=97&dur=21&hovh=192&hovw=256&tx=85&ty=88&sig=101633604460545568724&page=1&tbnh=166&tbnw=227&&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:107>