Cognitive Resources and Metacognitive Strategies in a Problem on Magnetism

COLEONI, ENRIQUE ANDRÉS; BUTELER, LAURA M.

Bar Harbor, Maine, USA

Conferencia; 2007 Foundations & Frontiers in Physics Education Research Conference; 2007

University of Maine

This work reports metacognitive strategies deployed by students solving two problems on magnetism. In this study, the term metacognition refers to the strategies used by subjects in relation to the activation of cognitive resources (as proposed by Redish, 2004; and Hammer, 2004) Nine Introductory-Physics students participated in the study solving the problems in groups. Their productions were audio taped and transcripts analyzed. Some metacognitive strategies were clearly identified as well as "cycles” involving these strategies and the activation / deactivation of different cognitive resources. Some of the metacognitive strategies observed are liable of being exercised explicitly during instruction