Challenge
When COVID-19 disrupted traditional learning environments, students suddenly needed stronger self-regulation skills to succeed in emergency remote learning contexts. How could instructional designers across a large university system quickly share evidence-based strategies to support student metacognition?
My Strategic Response
Along with a close colleague, I identified metacognition as the critical theoretical framework needed to address this challenge and designed a collaborative solution that would scale knowledge-sharing across multiple campuses and disciplines.
Theoretical Foundation
Drawing from metacognitive learning theory, we recognized that students needed explicit support for self-awareness, self-monitoring, and self-regulation strategies—skills that became essential when traditional classroom supports disappeared during the pandemic.
Innovation & Implementation
- Collaborative Platform: Created a centralized Sites at PSU resource hub for sharing metacognitive activity templates
- Professional Development Integration: Embedded resource collection within Learning Design Summer Camp virtual session
- Scalable Contribution Model: Designed system enabling instructional designers across all campuses to contribute and adapt activities
- Real-Time Knowledge Building: Used live session time to crowdsource practical applications of metacognitive theory
Theory-to-Practice Bridge
Rather than simply sharing abstract concepts, we created a mechanism for translating metacognitive research into immediately implementable classroom activities that colleagues could customize for their specific contexts.
Leadership Impact
Facilitated cross-campus collaboration during crisis, ensuring that evidence-based learning science reached students when they needed it most. The resource demonstrates how theoretical knowledge can be rapidly mobilized to address urgent practical challenges.
Companion Materials
- Learn2Learn Resource Site
- My contributions: Design Project, Reading Journal, Event Reflection
- LDSC Presentation: Slide Deck with Speaker Notes (previously hosted on Squarespace; contact me for access)