Memorization or Metacognition or Both?

Memorizing facts and concepts is necessary. (Remember: Bloom’s first level is Remembering).

And some courses rightfully require A LOT of memorization.  Take Medical Terminology 101, for example—its extensive vocabulary may give you a cephalalgia.

(Psst: that means headache).

Memorization is perfect for Bloom’s lowest levels

• Remembering
• Understanding
• Applying 

But how do you promote higher-order thinking?

Incorporate learning activities that invite the learner to reflect on their own learning!

(Psst: that means metacognition).

This may seem challenging to accomplish amidst all the facts, but all you have to do is…

Incorporate learning activities from Bloom’s highest levels:

In case you don’t remember what those are, we list them below – with examples!

• Analyzing: After students analyze specific medical terms, have them write a brief reflection on how they approached the task of answering questions like:
  • What strategies did you use to break down the terms?
  • How did you use your existing knowledge to understand new terms?
  • What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

• Evaluating: Provide a medical case study to students. Ask them to identify all medical terms and their relevance to the patient's condition. Then ask them to reflect on their learning process:
  • What strategies did you use to understand and apply medical terminology?
  • What challenges did you face in interpreting or using medical terms?
  • How will you address these gaps and improve your use of medical terminology?
• Creating: Ask students to design a patient education brochure. After they complete it, have them write a reflective essay that addresses:
  • How did you approach simplifying the medical terminology?
  • What challenges did you encounter creating accurate yet understandable information?
  • How did your understanding of medical terms increase through this process?

Want to learn more about how WIDS can assist you?  Memorize this email address:  info@wids.org.  Then reflect on your needs and contact us.  

WIDS (Worldwide Instructional Design System) is a nonprofit organization that provides curriculum design software, consulting, and training services.