Metacognition

Metacognition is the process of "thinking about thinking", or the ability to understand and control one's own thought processes. It is a key aspect of human cognition and has been the subject of much research in psychology and education.

Definition

Metacognition is defined as "cognition about cognition", or "knowing about knowing". It can take many forms, including an awareness of one's own knowledge, the ability to understand, control, and manipulate one's own cognitive processes, and the ability to reflect on one's own thoughts and mental states.

History

The term "metacognition" was first used by the American developmental psychologist John H. Flavell, who is considered the pioneer in this field. He introduced the term in a 1976 paper, where he defined it as the knowledge and control children have over their own thinking and learning activities.

Components

Metacognition consists of two main components: metacognitive knowledge and metacognitive regulation.

• Metacognitive knowledge refers to what individuals know about their own cognitive processes. This includes knowledge about what they know and don't know, and their ability to understand tasks and the strategies needed to perform them.

• Metacognitive regulation refers to the processes used to control one's learning, such as planning, monitoring, and evaluating one's progress towards achieving a learning goal.

Role in learning and education

Metacognition plays a crucial role in learning and education. It helps learners to plan and control their learning, evaluate their progress, and adjust their strategies as needed. Research has shown that metacognitive skills can be taught and that teaching these skills can improve students' learning outcomes.

See also

• Cognition
• Self-awareness
• Theory of mind

References

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