Effective Academic Success Coaching
Learning Strategies (applying Metacognition)
#
Strategy
Approach
1
Previewing
(before detailed
reading)
Do an overall preview of the subject area. This is a big
picture scan first. Explore the section headings,
boldface print, italicized words, charts. It’s a good idea
to fully understand the context for what you read versus
just going in and reading page by page.
2
Previewing on
Steroids
3
Paraphrase –
Correct Way
4
Flashcards,
Maps &
Outlines
5
Textbooks…
Please
Similar to #1, but here you give yourself a
reason to read the text. You develop some
questions that the reading will answer. It is
another motivational way to read through the
text.
Now with the reading, you should read only one
paragraph at a time. Stop and then paraphrase
what you just read. Then, you move to
paragraph two and do the same thing, folding in
the content themes from paragraph one. You
continue in this way. Manageable chunks of
knowledge.
Do activities like highlighting, note taking with
questions jotted down, bringing together
flashcards, concept or chapter maps and
outlines.
Students absolutely need the availability of the
textbook to do their assignments and their
coursework. We need to stress the importance
and need to use the textbook in order to do
strategies #1- #4 above. Reinforce how to use
the index and the table of contents in the book.
Effective Academic Success Coaching
Learning Strategies (applying Metacognition)
continued
#
Strategy
6
Go to class &
take notes
7
Homework as
Assessment
8
Student as
Teacher
Approach
This strategy describes the significance of
getting to class and taking notes by hand versus
on the computer, based on recent studies. It is
better to get notes from a student colleague
versus using the lecture PPT slides too.
The strategy here is for students to study as if
for a quiz. Actively read the parts of textbook or
any class notes. Work the “problems” without
referring to the given solutions. This is about
learning through the investigative process.
Thereafter the student can “check” the “answer”.
Reflection and deep learning is taking place.
Also, it is good to progress from simple
problems to then move to more complex
problems.
The student becomes the teacher, teaching it to
a friend or family member. The student will
present the key concepts so that their “friend”
can understand it. Explaining new
knowledge/content to someone else means a
higher level of mastery.
Effective Academic Success Coaching
Learning Strategies (applying Metacognition)
continued
#
9
10
Strategy
Approach
Come together, This strategy works in concert with other
right now…
learning strategies and involves working in
groups/teams. During this phase, students
evaluate one another’s thinking. It is a
synergistic way.
Play detective: By using a detective approach, students can
Mock exam
invent an outline of a “mock” exam. This could
be developed from class notes, questions or
problems at the end of the text chapters, and
other problems that the instructor provided as
homework. Testing is an effective way to
reinforce, deepen and strengthen the learning.
Practice tests are wonderful to do before the
real test.
(McGuire, 2015, pp.43-57)