Metacognition
Introduction
Metacognition, derived from the Greek root word "meta" meaning beyond and "cognition" referring to the process of acquiring knowledge, is a higher-order thinking skill that involves self-awareness and self-regulation of one's own cognitive processes. It is the ability to think about one's own thinking, to be consciously aware of oneself as a problem solver, and to regulate one's own cognitive processes read more. It involves active control over the cognitive processes engaged in learning, including planning how to approach a given learning task, monitoring comprehension, and evaluating progress toward the completion of the task.
Understanding Metacognition
Metacognition is a complex construct that is fundamental to learning and has been a subject of considerable research in the field of educational psychology. It is often divided into two components: metacognitive knowledge and metacognitive regulation.
Metacognitive Knowledge
Metacognitive knowledge refers to what individuals know about their own cognition or about cognition in general. It includes knowledge about when and how to use particular strategies for learning or problem-solving. There are three types of metacognitive knowledge: declarative, procedural, and conditional. Declarative knowledge is about oneself as a learner and about what factors can influence one's performance. Procedural knowledge is about how to do things. Conditional knowledge is knowing when and why to use declarative and procedural knowledge.
Metacognitive Regulation
Metacognitive regulation is the regulation of cognition and learning experiences through a set of activities that help control learning. This includes planning, monitoring, and evaluating. Planning involves the selection of appropriate strategies and the allocation of resources that affect task performance. Monitoring is the awareness of comprehension and task performance. Evaluating is appraising the final product of a task and the efficiency at which the task was performed.
Importance of Metacognition
Metacognition plays a crucial role in successful learning. It allows individuals to assess their level of expertise and make decisions about their cognitive abilities. It helps learners choose and use appropriate strategies for learning or problem-solving, monitor their comprehension of information, and evaluate their progress toward their goals. Furthermore, metacognition helps learners to become more independent, self-directed learners, and it enhances their motivation and their ability to deal with frustration.
Metacognition in Education
In the field of education, metacognition is considered a critical component of successful learning. It is associated with improved learning outcomes and has been the focus of a number of educational interventions designed to enhance students' learning and study skills. Teaching metacognitive strategies can improve learning and performance in problem-solving, reading comprehension, and writing. It can also help students to become more efficient learners by teaching them how to learn, how to monitor their own understanding, and how to adjust their learning strategies when they are not understanding.
Metacognition and Cognitive Psychology
In cognitive psychology, metacognition is considered a key mechanism that underlies many cognitive processes and abilities. It is closely related to executive functions, such as planning, working memory, attention, problem solving, and verbal reasoning. Metacognition is also related to self-regulated learning, which refers to the self-directive process by which learners transform their mental abilities into academic skills.
Metacognition and Neuroscience
Neuroscience research has shown that metacognition involves both the frontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain. These areas are associated with executive function, decision making, and self-regulation. Neuroimaging studies have also shown that metacognitive accuracy, or the ability to accurately judge one's own performance, is associated with increased activation in the anterior prefrontal cortex.