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Knowing where to start is often the most difficult part
1 . Introduction: This document looks at the best available research and offers some practical advice on how to develop your metacognitive skills.
You should be aware that last academic year we have had a whole school focus on one of these strategies - Retrieval Practice. Included here are some further ‘learning to learn’ or ‘thinking skills’ approaches that you should consider trying as you begin your A Levels. Thinking about how you think and learning about how you learn will really help you in your studies now and going forward.
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Your subject teachers are best placed to advise you on which metacognitive strategies work in their subjects.
2. First of all let's confront the elephant in the room: Remote Learning. You are probably feeling nervous about the time you have had out of the classroom during the period of Remote Learning. All the research says that it is best to convert this nervousness and concern into specific, planned strategies. This document has some advice about ways to do this . Another thing to consider are all the positive metacognitive strategies you have developed during your GCSEs and the period of Remote Learning - you have worked independently, developed time management skills and probably reflected on your use of IT and how you learn best - all of this is positive. It might be worth pausing and listing the things that have worked for you and what you might do differently as you start A Levels
Final note before we move on: This document uses the terms ‘’review, revision and consolidation’’ interchangeably. Formeitisalljustaboutgoodlearning.
3. The Theory behind the Science of Learning: We now know more than ever about the science of learning. Evidence from research suggests that there are certain strategies that help you learn more efficiently and more effectively. Knowing what does and doesn’t work will allow you to feel more in control and be better equipped for consolidation and revision.
It’s about the long-term rather than the short-term, which also means there are no quick fixes.
So, before we carry on, ask yourself these three simple questions: ● How do you study? ● Why do you study this way? ● Does it work?
