By Mark Newton
Computer Science & Mathematics Teacher
As parents, we all want the very best for our children and their education. We strive to provide them with the tools and strategies that will empower them to navigate the challenges of learning and excel in their academic endeavors. Nevertheless, to thrive in life and prepare them for an uncertain future, it is imperative that Northbridge International School Cambodia students acquire knowledge beyond mere academics.
A well-rounded education should equip students with a diverse range of skills – how to collaborate, ask the right questions, solve problems and the ability to navigate new and unfamiliar situations. At NISC, we use a range of strategies to provide students with the skills and techniques needed to successfully take on the challenges that they encounter during their learning journey at school and life beyond.
One approach that we are focusing on, and is showing great promise, is metacognition in the classroom, which aligns with Nord Anglia’s vision to “shape a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who change our world for the better”.
“Alongside leading researchers from the University College London (UCL) and the Harvard Project Zero initiative, Nord Anglia have developed their own approach to metacognition that supports students in their academic, personal and social growth” - Nord Anglia
“Metacognition” is not a word many of us are familiar with and you may be wondering what exactly it means. In simple terms, it is teaching children how to think about their own thinking processes. It involves students being aware of and understanding how they learn, solve problems, and make decisions.
Here at NISC, a core body of teachers have begun to explore ways to integrate metacognitive strategies into daily lessons, with the aim of developing more committed, compassionate, creative, curious, collaborative, and critically-minded students. Our hope is that by cultivating these higher-order thinking skills, students will be empowered to achieve their full potential.
In conclusion, the incorporation of metacognition into lessons is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your child's educational journey.
By raising students' self-awareness about metacognition, students gain a level of control over their learning that leads to a deeper understanding, contributes to their academic success, and equips them with essential life skills that will serve them well in the future.
World Children's Day (WCD) is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.
The readers of this article have all likely experienced a ‘traditional’ exam setting. Rows of desks, pen and paper, and exam papers that are primarily constructed to test knowledge and recall of the course content. There is certainly some value to an exam paper that assesses a student’s knowledge, but ultimately, knowledge and recall represents a very narrow range of the skills actually needed in the modern world. Recognising this, the IB has taken an revolutionary look at assessment in the middle years, with the eAssessment.
