Nord Anglia Education Metacognition Study
Recognizing the changing nature of global education, Nord Anglia Education* (NAE) has developed the Metacognition Project: a pedagogy-led ed-tech initiative designed to support student progress in metacognition and NAE’s own Learner Ambitions. Seeking to unlock the potential of metacognition for its students, the Metacognition Project integrates a technology-enhanced and skills-based approach that aims to support students in achieving personal, social and academic success.
The NAE Metacognition Project involves four component parts:
Component 1
Teacher use of a digital platform to access Metacognition Project resources, deliver lessons and collect and respond to formative assessment data in real time.
Component 2
Emphasis on Harvard Project Zero Thinking Routines to develop student growth across Learner Ambitions and promote a metacognitive approach to learning.
Component 3
A metacognitive goal-setting sequence that prompts student reflection on development and progress in the Learner Ambitions.
Component 4
A Learner Portfolio where students collect evidence of their skill development, and reflect on their growth in skills and metacognition.
In support of the Metacognition Project’s deployment across 27 schools in 5 global regions, NAE is pleased to be collaborating with Boston College researchers on a dynamic 2-year research and evaluation partnership.
Research Questions
The NAE Metacognition Study aims to answer four key research questions:
Question 1
What is the effectiveness of the Metacognition Project in promoting metacognitive growth?
Question 2
Is there a relationship between metacognitive growth and student outcomes and wellbeing?
Question 3
What are the key factors that contribute to the development of metacognitive skills in learners, and how do these factors influence student learning outcomes and promote academic success and personal wellbeing?
Question 4
What are the factors of implementation that impact on the success of delivery of the metacognitive approach in schools and classrooms?
Research Methods
The NAE Metacognition Study employs a mixed methods research study design using both qualitative and quantitative data collection tools. Over the 2-year collaboration, relevant data is captured across participating schools through:
Method 1
School engagement with the Learner Ambition and metacognitive resources stored in digital tools
Method 2
Student use of the Learner Portfolio showing evidence of their progress in the Learner Ambitions and core aspects of metacognition
Method 3
Teacher and student participation in surveys and focus groups across the 2 years of the project
Method 4
Teacher-led action research projects
All research and reflection activities aim to support schools in creating metacognitive cultures of learning in their classrooms, using research-informed resources to enhance student success.
Aims and objectives
The research and evaluation partnership aims to:
Aim 1
Measure the growth of different elements of metacognition in students over an academic year.
Aim 2
Examine the relationship between the growth of each element of metacognition and academic outcomes and student wellbeing.
Aim 3
Investigate the factors that contribute to the development of metacognitive skills in students.
Aim 4
Support the implementation of the Metacognition Project through formative collection and use of evaluation data.
Timelines
Approximate data collection timeline for Year 1 school participants (2023/2024):
Approximate data collection timeline for Year 2 school participants (2024/2025):
* Nord Anglia Education is one of the world’s leading international education organisations with over 80 independent day and boarding schools in more than 30 countries.