It is necessary for the instructor to meet with the class in the spirit of collaboration to develop a mutually agreed upon overall approach for the semester. Below are my suggestions as to what elements are absolutely necessary. studentsat a Fine Arts college.

• Use the microworld in teams of 2-3 students
• Microworld also available in computer lab for individual student access at any time, day or night
• The instructor determines early on the zone of proximal development for each student in metacognitive activities through observation of tool use. The instructor must therefore assess her own role for each student's development of self-assessment, self-explanation, monitoring, or revising of concepts
• The class decides the role of the metacognitive tools in their particular interactions (i.e., the Diary and Self-Assess tools may be programmed to run at defined times. Or, the students my have free reign as to when they desire to use the tools.)
• Several initial class sessions are devoted to discussions as to what to include in programming the Self-Assess tool
  • Instructor scaffolds, moving through the room and responding as needed to questions, but rarely answering questions directly.
  • Instead provides direction by responding to students with clues
  • Or by asking relevant questions based on students presentation of their current thinking
• Playbacks are always accessible and document each session; students revisit their work regularly
• The Diary also acts as a notepad to document key points in the process taking place during each session
  • The student is coached as to how to become aware of key decision points
  • Using the Diary to look at thinking before, during and after sessions enables the student to make comparisons and remember key points
  • She documents the successes and failures, both of which contribute to her knowledge
• The role of the Video Assistant (V/A) is examined through class discussion wherein individuals provide anecdotal examples of interactions with the V/A and discuss its value