We already know it's important for us to measure the academic success and progress of our students in today's context. So as teachers, we try to see if we're using the right resources to support individual growth and help students who are falling behind the best way we know how. However, not every skill, talent, or positive characteristic can be easily measured or quantified, have you heard of non-cognitive variables?

The Term Non-Cognititive Variables is starting to resurface in K12 again!

Non-cognitive variables is starting to come up pretty often. Non-cognitive variables are the unique characteristics that all students have that help them shine, problem-solve, connect with their peers, and learn through both the resources given to them and their own experiences so they will be successful. K12 teachers are starting to implement these strategies into their classrooms but they are not currently measured as a school district to ensure growth among students.

Here are five ways we currently use non-cognitive variables in our K12 classrooms:

1. Self-assessments: Ask students to reflect on their personal competencies and rate themselves on different non-cognitive variables like motivation, resilience, social skills, and self-awareness.

2. Peer evaluations: Have students evaluate their classmates on their non-cognitive variables. This can help students develop empathy, communication, and leadership skills.

3. Classroom observations: Observe students in the classroom and take note of their behavior, attitudes, and interactions with others. This can provide insights into their personal competencies.

4. Student portfolios: Have students create portfolios that showcase their work, progress, and personal competencies. This can help them reflect on their growth and development over time.

5. Goal setting and tracking: Encourage students to set goals related to their personal competencies and track their progress over time. This can help them develop self-regulation skills and a growth mindset.

Here are the Non-cognitive Variable groups to remember:

Non-cognitive variables are grouped into four factors: cognitive, motivational, social-emotional, and metacognitive. They are also known as personal competencies and can be taught and refined. Students who exercise their non-cognitive variables are more likely to view their accomplishments as earned, accept constructive criticism, take on leadership roles, and practice long-term planning. They are also more aware of the struggles that students of different abilities, races, and income levels may face in the school system.

If universities can predict undergraduate success why not expand to other areas?

While universities measure non-cognitive variables as a major predictive factor of undergraduate success, it's difficult for many curriculums and school programs to measure them and add them to their current system of measuring educational factors. Although teachers and principals recognize the merit of non-cognitive variables, it's challenging to implement changes in a system that is already dependent on established variables.

 References

Connect. School. (n.d.). [IMAGE] Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://school-connect.net/

Fagioli, Loris P, et al. 2020. "The Role of Non-Cognitive Variables in Identifying Community College Students in Need of Targeted Support." Research in Higher Education, vol. 61, no. 6, 2020, pp. 725–763., https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-020-09588-7.  

Jaschik, Scott. 2017. "An Admissions Reformer Takes Stock." An Admissions Reformer Takes Stock of the Use of Non-cognitive Variables, https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2017/05/22/admissions-reformer-takes-stock-use-noncognitive-variables.