Article 3: Digital Library for Metacognition and Sustainable Development

In today’s fast-paced world, where information is abundant and easily accessible, the role of digital libraries transcends mere repositories of knowledge. They serve as invaluable tools for fostering metacognition and facilitating sustainable development on a global scale. Metacognition, the awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes, is crucial for effective learning and problem-solving. When combined with the principles of sustainable development, digital libraries become powerful instruments for societal progress.

Digital libraries offer a vast array of resources, ranging from academic journals and research papers to multimedia content and interactive learning modules. This wealth of information empowers individuals to engage in self-directed learning, explore diverse perspectives, and develop critical thinking skills. By navigating through digital archives, users can reflect on their learning strategies, identify areas for improvement, and adapt their approaches accordingly, thus enhancing their metacognitive abilities.

For this reason, we enabled VET students to transfer their learning experience into engaging and creative digital stories! Digital Story Library plays a crucial role in learners’ reflection and thinking during the online course on environmental thinking competence. While progressing through different stages of competence, they are invited to share their experience with digital stories, accompanied by photos, videos or other media of choice.

How does it work?

After completing the course or particular module, learners can mirror their experiences, thoughts, attitudes or concerns into meaningful stories, thereby leaving a written trace of their learning journey. What have you learned? What has changed in your environmental approach? What sustainable decisions will you make right now? What concerns do you have regarding the topic? are some of the questions that could guide learners in self-reflective writing.

The tool itself has many features allowing learners to name their story, prepare its summary, and link it to one of the areas of environmental thinking competence: Planning, Reflection, Critical thinking, Holistic View, Problem Solving, Mental Scripting, Active Involvement or Behaviour Change. As for every other story, the learners can design their “cover” by choosing a picture, sometimes expressing the words that cannot be found. In addition, learners have the option to insert photos, videos or links explaining the flow of their thoughts more visually. Moreover, when wanting to inspire others or make the story visible to other users on the platform, the “Published” button can make it happen. Peer exchange will foster mutual support, increase learners’ motivation and facilitate future green actions in VET.

Visit our VET Reflective Digital Story Library that helps learners to create their own environmental metacognitive stories as a means of reflecting on their personal and professional development from an environmentally aware perspective. https://met-vet.erasmus.site/platform/login