Carl Hendrick

What do we mean by ‘meta-cognition’?

Meta-cognition relates to the process of actively thinking about our own learning. It’s often referred to as ‘learning skills’ or ‘learning to learning’ and is centered on one’s ability to evaluate and monitor one’s own learning and to readjust as necessary through continual self-monitoring. It also includes the ability to self-regulate one’s own learning in terms of managing motivation.

Meta-cognitive Regulation

This refers to the adjustments people make in order to help them control their own learning and includes:

• Planning
• Information Management Strategies
• Comprehension Monitoring
• ‘de-bugging’ strategies
• Evaluative and Progress Goals
• Knowing when and where to use particular strategies for learning and problem solving
• How and why to use such strategies
• The use of prior knowledge to plan a strategy for approaching a learning task
• Taking the necessary steps to:
  • Problem Solve
  • Reflect on and/or evaluate the results
  • Modify the approach as needed

Meta-cognitive…