Many interactive learning environments provide scaffolding that asks students to perform certain metacognitive strategies during learning (e.g., self-explanation). While such interventions often lead to effective learning, we ask: “Isn’t it something that we want students to perform proactively?”
Our AlgeSPACE platform has a new learning module in which pedagogical agents will give several choice-making opportunities for students during algebra learning. The agents will ask if students want to engage in some metacognitive activities, such as to explain their own problem-solving strategies and to compare multiple solution strategies.
A classroom study with 9th and 10th graders in Germany showed that students who proactively engaged in the optional metacognitive activities learned better than those who chose not to engage in those activities.
