BIS Abu Dhabi at the Forefront of Cutting-Edge Metacognition Research

As a proud member of the Nord Anglia family, The British International School (BIS) Abu Dhabi is at the forefront of cutting-edge research. As one of the select pilot schools, we are benefitting from innovative studies like the recent Forbes-featured Metacognition project, which aims to enhance student learning and critical thinking.

What is Metacognition?

Metacognition, the process of understanding how to learn best to adapt and thrive in different situations, plays a crucial role in improving student outcomes. This practice helps students think critically, understand deeply, and take ownership of their education, fostering independence and adaptability in today’s fast-paced world.

Key Findings from the Research

The study, involving 27 pilot schools across 17 countries, demonstrates how Thinking Routines created by Project Zero, a research centre at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, help students become more reflective and independent learners. Key findings include:

• 84% of students said that metacognition helps them understand how they think and learn best.
• 75% of students reported improvements in their independence.
• 73% said their knowledge of how they can learn improved.
• 71% stated that Project Zero Thinking Routines deepened their thinking.
• 71% observed improvements in their social skills
• More than two-thirds of students noted enhanced creativity, curiosity, compassion, collaboration, commitment, and critical thinking.

Victoria Juett, Secondary Assistant Headteacher at BIS Abu Dhabi, remarked: “Incorporating metacognitive practices has created a more reflective, collaborative, and self-directed learning environment for our students, which aligns with our mission of delivering a world-class holistic education. Our students now feel more engaged in their learning as they notice real improvements in how they think and solve problems. They have greater self-awareness, independence, and improved social skills, which has nurtured a sense of achievement and belonging, ultimately contributing to overall well-being.”

Impact at BIS Abu Dhabi

At BIS Abu Dhabi, the integration of metacognitive practices into classroom teaching has been transformative. Aaron Regan Year 5 Teacher, Curriculum and Metacognition Lead at BIS Abu Dhabi highlighted the practical implementation: “As a school, we have embedded our learner ambitions - creativity, curiosity, compassion, collaboration, commitment, and critical thinking - into our 'Star of the Week' rewards to celebrate and encourage these essential qualities. Alongside this, we have implemented specific Harvard Project Zero Thinking Routines that align with these ambitions, helping students develop a deeper awareness of their growth and encouraging both holistic and academic progress.”

To measure the effectiveness of these strategies, BIS Abu Dhabi is conducting action research in partnership with Boston College, focusing on guided reading and the areas of prediction and inference. Regan noted, “Early results indicate that students are starting to show improvement in these essential reading skills, demonstrating how these routines not only boost literacy but also contribute to the development of well-rounded, reflective learners.”

Voices from the Research Partners

Dr. Kate Erricker, Nord Anglia’s Group Head of Education Research and Global Partnerships, stated: “Metacognitive practices are transforming how our students approach their learning. By understanding and controlling their own learning processes, they can improve academically and across essential development areas. Our research underscores the importance of teaching students to understand their thinking, helping them to become more independent and effective learners.”

Dr. Damian Bebell, Assistant Research Professor at Boston College, emphasised: “Our global research partnership with Nord Anglia Education is one of the first large-scale studies of metacognition and skills development. It’s very encouraging to see the first year’s results, which will help us to further shape teaching practices and learning outcomes.”

Dr. Flossie Chua, Principal Investigator at Project Zero, added: “Testing and refining metacognitive strategies in Nord Anglia’s classrooms using our Thinking Routines is at the centre of encouraging a culture of learning. We applaud this important research project and its potential to help students develop life-changing skills.”

A Commitment to Excellence

Alan Cocker, Principal of BIS Abu Dhabi, emphasised the significance of the school’s involvement: “It’s crucial for educators to keep learning how to learn. I am thrilled that our school is taking the opportunity to pilot educational research with such esteemed partners to advance our skills in enabling students to be better learners. Our team is committed and excited to discover more and refine our already excellent practices.”

Nord Anglia’s research paper ‘Building Better Thinkers’ can be viewed here and information about the study’s questions, methods, and objectives can be found here.