Metacognition: Metromedia Cable Project

When having to think of a project that I had to use metacognitive skills, I thought back to my most recent math project, the Metromedia Cable Project. For this project, we had to solve a difficult math problem and come up with a creative way to present your work and findings on the problem.
Upon getting the project I immediately spoke to the teacher asking what she was looking for in the final product, or in other words, I clarified the directions and tasks of the project. The second metacognitive skill I used was organization, a skill that I often lack. With the help of my tutor, I broke the project into manageable steps that I could tackle on a daily basis. The breaking down of work prevented procrastination and made the project easier to tackle. Next, using the Internet, I searched for multiple sources that answered my questions about the problem and brought new ideas for the finished project. By using the Internet to answer questions, I used my metacognitive skills to comprehend the material. With the ideas that I gathered online and the ideas that materialized in my head, I needed a way to determine which ideas were the most important and therefore I should include and then organize them into the project's format. I found it difficult at first to visually put the ideas together in a flowing cohesive pattern. However, by self-talking and hearing my ideas out loud, the ideas came together metacognitivly. By applying these effective metacognitive skills, I was able to efficiently and successfully complete the assignment.
However, not all my metacognitive skills were put to good use. For example, I cease to review directions or plan out my ideas via outlining before starting. Without a proper plan or revision of the directions, I often find my self deviating from the given instructions and repeating myself. As a result, what I turn in sometimes is not what the teacher is looking for. Even without planning for the Metromedia Cable project, I was luckily able to follow the criteria and receive my desired grade. The metacognitive skill of planning is a skill that I have yet to master. Projects might also be easier to finish if I could isolate myself from other noises or distractions. Even while doing this blog right now, I am in the kitchen hearing my mom watch TV and my brother play guitar. If I could find a quieter work place then perhaps my train of thought would not be disrupted quite as often resulting in better focus on the task that I'm assigned. At the point of time when I am able to create a plan and isolate my work area for every project, will be the time when essays and projects alike will become a much simpler task. By harnessing all of the mentioned metacognitive skills, I will have become a more efficient, organized, smarter, and focused student.

Blogging Around

Alex, I'm glad you commented on the issue of the war in Afghanistan. Looking at what you wrote, it seems you have a similar opinion to that of Mr. William's. I too believe that it is our not our business to be in others affairs. However, I agree with NATO Secretary-General that we need to stay there "as long as it takes to finish our job". Hopefully "Our job" is to rid Afghanistan of the terrorist organizations and set up a working political system, but we don't know. I believe that after gaining control of Afghanistan, to have different results than the Russians and the Taliban, that NATO must follow up and create a working government. Overall, I agree that we must finish what we started but finish it in a way that we don't mess up the end game.

Darrell I cannot help but agree wholeheartedly with you on this issue. The technology today, thought it has its benefits, it really distorting the meaning of "Identity". Like you say Darrell, Facebook and other technologies are creating a virtual world in which you can easily alter your identity to your pleasure. This is a growing problem because identities are so easily created or changed it is hard to truly know who anyone is or what they stand for anymore.
One point that you've made that I've seen made before is the point of how technology is destroying the art of communication. As Mrs. Bergmann, my 6th 7th and 8th drama teacher once said, "With all of this technology, our youth is in jeopardy of losing all arts of communication, like facial expressions, sarcasm, hand gestures, and any other added emotions". I begin to see what she means as now as I am talking to you, Darrell, on a lifeless, emotionless blog post. The way you say things is often more important than what you say. i.e. "Darrell you are so smart" am I being serious or sarcastic right now? Overall, I believe the loss of communication and the too simple way you can end relationships make friends, and define yourself with a couple clicks offsets the benefits of today's technology.