I have a student who doesn't know what he doesn't know! What?!! How can one 'know' what one does not know? This wreaks of metacognition!! Let me attempt to explain. As I grow in my practice, I am finding that my students who 'know' or are aware of what they 'don't know', are the students who can take action, question, pursue, learn, and consequently 'really know' and improve their understanding. It is the students who 'don't know' what they don't know who are learning-paralyzed and unable to action or next steps. So how do teacher's help students to 'know' what they 'don't know' so that they can cure their paralysis - or perhaps even just get them standing, walking, or moving in the direction of learning and understanding?Two threaded posts to consider:
1. Why Students Think They Understand When They Don't
2. How to Help Students See When Their Knowledge Is Superficial or Incomplete
One tool to consider using or modifying to help students think about their own degree of understanding: Prompts for Examining Your Own Understanding
