Moderate Concept Summary: Metacognition

ED 304: Ed Psych and Human Development

Author: Camille Jamison

Validated by: Emily Walton 2/17/23

Disclosure: Chat GPT was used in the creation of this recourse

Summary

Metacognition is awareness of and active control over a thought process. Metacognition can occur in several instances including, but not limited to, decision-making, learning, and problem-solving. Any strategy used to implement metacognition in an educational setting to enhance deep learning is called cognitive strategy instruction. Before metacognition can take place, self-awareness, and inhibitory control must be present. 

Self-awareness, as the name suggests, is to be aware of one’s thoughts, behaviors, or feelings. Inhibitory control is the ability to control those thoughts, behaviors, or feelings. While many of our behavioral and thought patterns are habitual, change is possible. 

Skills like inhibitory control and metacognition are good indicators of student success and therefore are highly valuable in classrooms. Students who possess metacognitive skills also display improved decision-making, critical thinking, and academic success, among other assets. Additionally, children who were capable of inhibitory control early in life proved to be happier, better citizens, have better careers, and better health than their peers as adults. One effective way to foster metacognitive skills in students is through self-assessment of knowledge and performance. This allows learners to reflect on their effort, preparation, and study habits. 

Teacher Connection:

Using cognitive strategy instruction can enhance student success in many ways:

• Encourages deep learning.
• Increases ability to use metacognition in the future.
• Helps develop self-awareness and intrinsic motivation

Quiz Questions:

1. Match the following concepts to their definitions:

1. iii___ Metacognition
2. i___ Self Awareness
3. ii___ Inhibitory control
4. iv___ Cognitive Strategy Instruction

1. Awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors(b)
2. The ability to control one’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors(c)
3. Awareness of and active control of a thought process(a)
4. A strategy used to incorporate metacognition in a learning environment(d)

2. Which of the following methods implement metacognition in the classroom?

Select all that apply:

1. Handing out scores after a test
2. Asking students what they remember about a previous unit
3. Have students self-assess what they would change in their preparation if they could do a test over
4. Reading course content from a well-prepared slide and giving students printed notes with the same information.
5. Give a pre-assessment of what will be taught next unit

3. True or False: Children who are capable of controlling their thoughts, feelings, and

behaviors grow up to be less happy, less healthy, worse off, and are worse citizens

than their peers

1. True
2. False

Sources:

www.researchgate.net/publication/234755498_Metacognition_An_Overview

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4084861/

ctl.columbia.edu/resources-and-technology/resources/metacognition/

www.lifescied.org/doi/pdf/10.1187/cbe.12-03-0033