From Soft Skills to Strong Gains: 6 Practical Tips from Research on Belonging & Metacognition

[MarisaBluestone]

What if boosting your students’ grades didn’t start with a new curriculum, but with sticky notes and reflection surveys?

In our latest episode of The What & Who of EDU’s Digging into the Data, we sat down with Marcy Baughman, VP of Learning Science & Insights at Macmillan Learning, to talk about a large-scale research study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The focus was two deceptively simple tools: one that fosters a sense of belonging, and another that supports metacognitive reflection.

With 726 students across 29 institutions participating, the findings weren’t just promising, they were surprisingly powerful. And statistically significant. Here’s a breakdown of what we learned—and how you can use it.

1. Belonging Doesn’t Announce Itself

Students didn’t say “I have a low sense of belonging.” They said: “I’m not sure I fit in.” “I don’t feel comfortable talking to my instructor.” “I haven’t really connected with anyone.”

The digital tool in the study worked because it met students where they were–in digital spaces. It allowed them to connect around shared experiences like study habits or favorite music. Sometimes, even grief.

Start your semester with a question like “Where do you prefer to study?” or “What’s your comfort food of choice?”  While Macmillan Learning’s digital resource is still in beta testing, that doesn’t mean you can’t support belonging. You can collect responses in a form and then group responses and share. Connection doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to feel real to students.

2. Micro-Reflections Make Macro Impact

Students who completed just three to four short reflection surveys about their goals and progress saw measurable performance gains of up to 8%. This happened when reflections were spaced out, personalized and actionable. 

Try this: Every few weeks, ask your students: What’s working for you? What’s not? What’s your next move?

Help your students pause, assess, and course-correct. Short and meaningful can be really powerful here.

3. Get Personal ... in a Public Way

Instructors who responded to student posts, referenced them in class or simply acknowledged shared interests created stronger engagement. Students felt seen, and that changed everything.

Try this: Notice that several students mention liking coffee shops or anime or are working night shifts? Call it out in class. Use those data points to humanize yourself and build community.

4. Half Still Counts

One surprising takeaway from the study was that students didn’t need to complete every activity for the tools to work. Showing up about half the time still led to a meaningful impact.

Try this: Start small. Assign one reflection. Carve out five minutes in class for a belonging check-in. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or perfect plan, just starting can make a meaningful difference.

5. Let Students Teach Each Other

One of the most effective elements in the metacognition tool was peer videos: older students sharing how they overcame challenges in the same class. This helped normalize self-doubt and reinforce resilience.

Try this: Ask former students to record 30-second videos answering, “What helped you get through this course?” Or have current students reflect at midterm, then use those clips next semester.

6. Design With Students, Not Just For Them

Marcy’s team didn’t just guess what students needed. They asked. They co-designed. They iterated. The tools worked because they were relevant, lightweight and emotionally intelligent. And, importantly, were exactly what students needed.

Try this: You don’t need a grant to listen. Ask students mid-semester: “What’s something that would help you feel more connected to this class?” Then adjust where you can.

🎙️ Want more stories, insights, and research-backed strategies? Listen to the full episode: “Little Reflections, Big Gains: Digging Into the Data on Student Belonging & Metacognition”

➡️ Listen now on The What & Who of EDU
📞 Leave us a voicemail at (512) 765-4688 to share your take!