METACOGNITION – Awareness or analysis of one’s own learning or thinking process. 

“Thinking about thinking” or “learning how to learn” 

Acquired knowledge about cognitive process - This term was coined by John Flavell(1979-1987)

THREE CATEGORIES OF METACOGNITIVE KNOWLEDGE

1. KNOWLEDGE OF PERSON VARIABLES

   - Knowledge about how human beings  learn and process information.

Example : Studying early in the morning and late at night.

2. KNOWLEDGE OF TASK VARIABLES

           - Knowledge about the nature of task. It is about knowing what exactly needs to be accomplished, gauging its difficulty and knowing     the kind of effort it will demand for you.

        For example, being aware that you take more time in reading a book in educational philosophy than reading a novel.

3. KNOWLEDGE OF STRATEGY VARIABLES

            - Involves awareness of the strategy you are using to learn a topic. Meta-attention is the awareness of specific strategies so that you       can keep your attention focused on the topic or task at hand.

METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES TO FACILITATE LEARNING.

some examples of teaching strategies to develop  Metacognition.

TQLR – it is a metacognitive strategy before listening to a story or a presentation.

PQ4R – this strategy is used in a study of a unit or chapter.

T – TUNE IN

– It is first important for the learner himself to be aware that he is paying attention, and that he is ready to learn.

Q – QUESTION

– the learner is given questions or he thinks of questions about what he will soon learn.

L – LISTEN

– the learner exerts effort to listen.

R – REMEMBER

– the learner uses ways or strategies to remember what was learned.

P – PREVIEW

    –  Scan the whole chapter before delving in each paragraph

Q – QUESTION

    –   Read the guide question provided, or think of your own questions about the topic.

R – READ

–  Check out sub headings as you read. Find out the meaning of words that are not clear to you.

R – RECITE

    –  Work on answering the questions you had earlier.

R – REVIEW

   – Pinpoint topics you may need to go back and read in order to understand better.

R – REFLECT

   –  Think about what you read.

NOVICE AND EXPERT LEARNERS

Novice Learners - A person who has just started learning or doing something.

Expert Learners - Employed metacognitive strategies in learning.