Metacognition

Metacognition is the ability to understand our own thinking, recognise what we know and what we do not know, and organise our thinking processes accordingly. It refers to a set of processes we use to monitor ongoing thoughts so as to effectively control our own behaviour. It also includes our ability to monitor, regulate and control our own activities concerning learning and take effective responsibility of our own learning.

Metacognition plays an important role in essentially all cognitive tasks, from everyday behaviours and problem solving to expert performance in the various disciplines.

Metacognition in Action The person is able to:

• Reflect on their own thoughts and behaviour.
• Reflect and identify what they know and do not know about a subject.
• Think and plan on how to approach a learning task.
• Identify distractions while working on a task.
• Evaluate their progress toward the completion of a task.
• Use appropriate skills and strategies to solve a problem.
• Self-assess and self-correct in response to the self-assessment.
• Develop greater awareness of their actions and the effects of the same on others and the environment.
• Exhibit maturity in accepting their own limits to change.