Providing Choices for Metacognitive
Learning
Connor Pratt
Arts Specialization
Dr. Lillian Pailen
Fall 2012
Key Terms
 Cognition: our internal processing of information
 Metacognition: a higher level thinking which involves
active control over the cognitive processes engaged in
learning
 Reflection: inward directed activity which reinforces the
ownership of the individual’s personal learning strategies
and intentional behaviors
 Let Me Learn: A system developed by Dr. Christine
Johnson enabling students to determine their individual
learning patterns
Key Terms
 LCI: “Learning Connections Inventory”: an
instrument used to identify an individual’s combination of
learning patterns
 Sequential
 Precise
 Technical
 Confluent
Introduction
Problem
Students are not given enough different opportunities to
demonstrate their learning, nor are they being provided
appropriate aid to better understand themselves as
learners.
Question
Does providing choices for students to express
understanding of content aid in their ability to be
metacognitive about their learning?
Literature Review
Metacognition
 Livingston (1997): The importance of studying metacognitive development in
order to determine how students can be taught to better apply their
cognitive resources
Providing Students with Choices
 Erwin (2004): Diverse student populations should be taken into account as
students are provided with choices.
 Patall, Cooper, & Wynn (2010): Providing choices increases student interest,
engagement, and learning; students spend more time on tasks if they are
offered choices; helps build other important skills such as self-regulation
Reflection

Osterman & Kottkamp (2004): Reflection emphasizes thought and action as
an integral processes but extends beyond to consider how context and
culture shape both thought and action.
 Brunner (1994): Reflective activity involves wondering, doubting, and
questioning.
Literature Review
Theories/Systems
 Let me learn basics (2010): The Let me Learn process gives the learner
ownership of his learning in order to become a life long learner.
 Gardner (2006): Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Arts in the Elementary Classroom
 Goldberg (2012): Art as “fundamental to human development, expression,
and communication”
 Koster (2001): Art as a language
Research Question
Does providing choices for students to
express understanding of content aid in
their ability to be metacognitive about
their learning?
Methodology
Setting and Participants
Setting
 An Elementary School in Spotsylvania, VA.
 Fifth Grade Classroom
Participants
 25 Fifth Grade students
 9 students, from various academic levels, chosen
randomly from each category (high, average, and low)
 2 Fifth Grade teachers, Mrs. D & Mr. M
Methodology
Procedures
 January through March
 Complete LCI (Learning Connections Inventory)
 Weekly participation in stations, (at least one of
which includes a choice in the arts) followed by
reflection entries in “Learning Logs”
LCI: Learning Connections Inventory Example
Methodology
Data Collection
 Student LCIs (Learning Connections Inventory)
 Teacher interviews (pre & post intervention)
 Student interviews (mid & post intervention)
 Writing/art station samples in Learning Logs
 Student reflection writing samples in Learning Logs
References
Brunner, D. D. (1994). Inquiry and reflection: Framing narrative practice in education. Albany, NY:
State University of New York Press.
Erwin, J. C. (2004). The classroom of choice: Giving students what they need and getting what you
want. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Deve.
Garder, H. (2006). Multiple Intelligences: New Horizons. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Goldberg, M. (2012). Arts integration: Teaching subject matter through the arts in multicultural
settings (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Koster, J. B. (2001). Bringing art into the elementary classroom. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Let me learn basics [Powerpoint slides]. (2010). Retrieved December 9, 2012, from http://
www.letmelearn.org/media/powerpoints/
Let me learn glossary. (2008). Retrieved December 9, 2012, from http://letmelearn.org/
glossary/
about/
Livingston, J. A. (1997). Metacognition: An overview. Retrieved December 9, 2012, from
gse.buffalo.edu/fas/shuell/cep564/metacog.htm
http://
Osterman, K. F., & Kottkamp, R. B. (2004). Reflective practice for educators: Professional
development to improve student learning (2nd ed.), Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin
Press.
Patall, E. A., Cooper, H., Wynn, S. R. (2010). The effectiveness and relative importance of choice in
the classroom. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102 (4), 896-915. doi:10.1037/a0019545
Questions
?