Mount Kelly has re-joined the Cognitive Science Network (CSN), following last year’s successful participation as a founding member.
Mount Kelly was one of only a dozen or so schools to participate in the first Cognitive Science Network last year, a network which helps all involved schools to collaborate in applying findings from cognitive science research to support better teaching and learning.
Cognitive science is the scientific study of the mind and its processes. Taking input from linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, computer science/artificial intelligence, and anthropology, it examines the nature, tasks, and functions of cognition.
Alan Johnson, Assistant Head, Teaching and Learning explains.
“Mount Kelly has learnt a lot from the membership and established a research-based approach to teaching and learning and greater collective teacher efficacy, wherein teachers can positively impact the learning of our pupils by reflecting on their own practice, drawing on current, peer-reviewed research.
At INSET this term, six teachers shared their own project findings from the previous year. Topics included: metacognition and exam wrappers, the development of schema and the role of the learning environment, and pairing older, less confident readers with younger pupils to boost outcomes for all.
“Our membership of the Cognitive Science Network and consequent application of methods is clearly improving pupils’ skills and understanding of critical thinking and metacognition, the awareness of thought processes and learning how to learn.
“Over the last year, the School has also implemented discrete Critical and Creative Thinking lessons for Year 9 pupils and our ambition is that after five years, the first cohort of pupils will be in the final year of their A Level studies and reaping the rewards of this best practice and all pupils at the College will have benefitted from the programme.”
Maddy Carr, Assistant Head Safeguarding is also working with the CSN and said “As a member of the CSN we are able to share best practice and understanding with other schools who are pursuing excellence in teaching and learning. It is becoming a core element of our teaching methods and we’ve had positive feedback from all our teachers.”
Interested in learning more? Join our Parents’ Forum on ‘An Introduction to Metacognition and Cognitive Science and Revision’ with Alan Johnson, Assistant Head Teaching Learning at 18:30, Tuesday 14 November in the College Library, Mount Kelly.
Although aimed at parents of pupils working towards GCSE and A Levels, and those transitioning their education from prep to college, all parents are welcome to attend. There will be a presentation and opportunities for question and discussion, plus light refreshments. The event will also be filmed for parents unable to attend.
Categories: Academic
