Orchestrating Learning
The integration and interrelation of these dimensions of processing is [...] critical for deeper or higher-order learning, and for the development of complex skills and knowledge such as reasoning, problem solving, and critical thinking.
How People Learn II, pg. 70
Orchestrated Learning Strategies
By taking initiative in one's own learning, one is able to observe and adjust their behaviors in order to establish study and comprehension techniques. The interaction between these learning strategies are necessary to develop reasoned, critical thinking and complex, high-level problem-solving skills. Below are three key processes for coordinating one's own learning: metacognition, executive function, and self-regulation.
Metacognition
Metacognition is defined as a critical awareness of one's thinking and learning, and oneself as a thinker and learner. Simply put, it is thinking about one's own thoughts, with the goal to improve one's learning. Metacognition involves one's own ability to observe their own learning patterns, become aware of their absorption and reception of knowledge, and regulate their behaviors in order to achieve certain objectives.
The term comes from the Greek root word meta, meaning "beyond" or "atop," and the Latin root word cognoescere, meaning "getting to know."
Executive Function
Executive functions refer to the methods and behaviors that are involved in self-regulation of thinking and planning. The objective of this is to observe, consider, perform, and maintain consistency toward accomplishing some task. A necessary step in this is considering feedback and making adjustments as necessary to improve one's own efficiency.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation is the process of learning that is governed by metacognitive awareness, strategic planning, and a desire to learn. It involves the management of one's own own behaviors in order to achieve specific goals and adjust actions as necessary.
Understanding the integration and interplay of these various levels of processing is important to understanding how learners orchestrate their learning in the context of their complex cognitive and social environments.