Metacognition and Learning
After the presenting task (task at hand) goes through the self-system, it is passed on to the metacognitive system. This system helps us to plan, set time lines, allocate resources (Schank & Abelson, 1977). It also designs strategies for accomplishing goals once they have been set. Its main categories are:
- Goal Specification — Note that it does not decide to "engage" in a goal, that is the function of the self-system, its job is to help to determine when the goal has been completed.
- Process Specification — Identifies and activates the skills, tactics, and process used to accomplish a goal.
- Process Monitoring — Monitors the effectiveness of skills, tactics, and process used to accomplish a goal.
- Disposition Monitoring — Monitors how one approaches a task.
Throughout the above processes, the metacognitive system is continually interacting with the cognitive system from the start of the task to its end.
Metacognition is another important aspect of learning (see Brown, 1978; Flavell 1977). The importance of prior knowledge in determining performance, crucial to adults as well as children, includes knowledge about learning, knowledge of their own learning strengths and weaknesses, and the demands of the learning task at hand. Metacognition also includes self-regulation — the ability to orchestrate one's learning: to plan, monitor success, and correct errors when appropriate — all necessary for effective intentional learning (Bereiter and Scardamalia, 1985).
Metacognition also refers to the ability to reflect on one's performance. Whereas self-regulation may appear quite early, reflection appears to be late developing. If children lack insight to their own learning abilities, they can hardly be expected to plan or self-regulate efficiently. But metacognition does not emerge full-blown in late childhood in some "now you have it, now you don't" manner. The evidence suggests that, like other forms of learning, metacognition develops gradually and is as dependent on knowledge as experience. It is difficult to engage in self-regulation and reflection in areas that one does not understand. However, on topics that children know, primitive forms of self-regulation and reflection appear early (Brown and DeLoache, 1978).
References
Bereiter, C., Scardamalia, M. (1985). Cognitive coping strategies and the problem of 'inert knowledge.' In S. F. Chipman, J. W. Segal, & R. Glaser (eds.), Thinking and learning skills: Vol. 2. Research and open questions (pp. 65-80). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Brown, A., DeLoache, J.S. (1978). Skills, plans and self-regulation. In R. Siegler (Ed.), Children's thinking: What develops? (pp. 3-35). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Flavell, J.H., Wellman, H.M. (1977). Metamemory. In R.V. Kail & J.W. Hagen (Eds.), Perspectives on the development of memory and cognition. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Marzano, Robert J. (1998). A Theory-Based Meta-Analysis of Research on Instruction. Mid-continent Aurora, Colorado: Regional Educational Laboratory. Retrieved May 2, 2000 from http://www.mcrel.org/pdf/instruction/5982rr_instructionmeta_analysis.pdf
Schank, R. C., & Abelson, R. (1977). Scripts, plans, goals and understanding. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.