During our December Friday Forum discussion on grading, Communications instructor Dani Garcia talked about how she has students do regular metacognitive grade checks. She makes the grade check an assignment worth points. To do the assignment, students have to go into Moodle, look at their grades and then write reflectively about how they are doing in the course. This is a chance for students to pause and think about changes they may need to make to improve, or, if they are doing well, to take a minute to congratulate themselves and resolve to keep up the good work.

I know a number of other faculty members provide their students similar opportunities to reflect on the work they are doing. Bronwyn Jones shared with me several years ago that she has her students write cover letters for each major essay that they write. I immediately stole that good idea; when they turn in each major project, my students now have to reflect back on their writing process, focusing particularly on challenges they faced, how they overcame those challenges, and what they plan to do differently next time to avoid or deal with similar issues. As an added bonus, I use this metacognitive activity to help measure one of my “Learning How to Learn” course outcomes.

Mid-semester Alerts, due this Thursday, are another good opportunity to have students reflect. I let them know what the Grade Alerts are, what they mean, where they can find them, and what they can do if they get one (or several!).  I also do a Dani-like assignment: students have to look at their grades in my class and write a quick reflection to turn in. They will write about where they feel they are doing well, where they are struggling and what they plan to do to succeed for the rest of the semester. This activity forces them to examine and take responsibility for their grades as well as start a conversation with me about how they are doing.  And, I hope, it helps those who are struggling to “re-set” and get on track for the remainder of the course.

Read the Faculty Focus article, Assignment Helps Students Assess Their Progress, for additional ideas.