What Is Metacognition And Why Does It Matter For Education?

Metacognition can optimise learners’ basic cognitive processes, such as working memory, attention, activation of prior knowledge, and task completion. By facilitating more efficient and effective learning, metacognition can help students reach their learning goals.

This article delves into the concept of metacognition and its importance in learning. It examines how learners can derive benefits from metacognitive skills and how educators can integrate metacognitive processes into their teaching practices.

What is metacognition in education?

Metacognition is an awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. It refers to a learner’s capacity to plan, monitor, self-evaluate and problem-solve before adjusting their own learning behaviours to overcome challenges more effectively. 

Metacognitive abilities are a form of self-regulation, involving self-assessment and self-awareness, and higher-level thinking skills.

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) outlines the importance of metacognition to effective learning. The EEF’s report bridges the gap between educational research and classroom practice, presenting an understanding of ‘what works’ in a practical and accessible way.

Examples of metacognition

The EEF’s report notes that beyond a simple definition of ‘thinking about thinking’ or ‘learning to learn’, it can be hard to describe what metacognition means in the classroom. 

Metacognition can be subtle, difficult to identify and define, but the importance of metacognition and the science of learning can not be underestimated. Here are three examples that illustrate metacognitive strategies in action in the maths classroom:

1. A learner recognises that they are struggling with a multi-step maths problem and takes a moment to unpack the problem before attempting to solve it.

They might ask themselves metacognitive monitoring questions, such as:
• What are the important elements of the question or task?
• Have I solved a similar question before?

2. A learner checks their answer to an algebraic equation by substituting different values into original equations.

When faced with a complex word problem, a learner might write out the problem as an algebraic equation. They would then use strategies for solving simultaneous equations, evaluating overall success by substituting answers into the word problem and checking they are correct.

3. A learner reflects on the strategies they used to help them successfully solve a maths problem.

Learners can then use this metacognitive knowledge to inform their future learning and adapt to new tasks and contexts.

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What are the benefits of metacognition in student learning?

Learners with metacognitive skills are able to identify their own cognitive abilities and weaknesses, and to direct their thinking and learning towards areas that require attention. In essence, metacognitive thinking processes empower learners to take control of their own learning experiences and become more effective learners.

Benefits of metacognition include:

Impact on attainment

The EEF’s report states that the potential impact of metacognition and self-regulation approaches is high (+7 months of additional progress). Metacognitive practices can also compensate for any cognitive limitations that a learner might have.

Closes attainment gap

The EEF report states that there is some indication that students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds are less inclined to utilise metacognitive regulation and, as a result, could potentially gain the most from it.

The EEF’s research indicates that using metacognitive teaching strategies is beneficial for learners who are at a disadvantage compared to their peers.

Develops more independent learners

When young people are capable of monitoring their progress, it enables them to manage their own thinking and independent learning, both in and out of the classroom.

Cost-effective strategy

In effect, a metacognitive approach to teaching does not require specialist equipment, nor any other large purchases. It only requires teachers to be trained effectively in metacognitive practices.

Therefore, professional development and training opportunities are the main expenses for integrating metacognition in education.

Works well in mathematics

Metacognitive strategies are very amenable to use in maths, especially when used hand in hand with approaches that support oracy and talk in the classroom.

Research has looked at learners in both secondary and primary schools – and even those who have not yet started school – and found benefits in all cases.

The EEF report states that “children as young as three have been able to engage in a wide range of metacognitive and self-regulatory behaviours, such as setting themselves learning goals and checking their understanding”. 

Can be transferred to other areas

Metacognition helps learners transmit their knowledge and understanding across tasks and contexts, including reading comprehension, writing, maths, memorising, reasoning, and problem-solving. 

Improves resilience

By identifying their successes and failures, and which specific strategies work best for them, learners have a toolkit for perseverance with their work.

Supports emotional and social growth

Gaining awareness of their own thinking, learning processes and cognition allows learners to think about how to be happy and confident in themselves. Metacognitive thinking also allows learners to consider things from others’ perspectives.

Read more: Growth mindset

Boosts motivation

Research shows metacognition increases learner motivation because learners feel more in control of their own learning. Learners who make use of metacognitive strategies are more aware of their own thinking and more likely to be active learners who learn more deeply.

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What are the challenges of metacognition in student learning?

While metacognition is a valuable tool for students, it also comes with its own set of challenges. 

1. Metacognition is difficult to define

The EEF report describes metacognition as an “elusive” topic. Beyond a simple definition of ‘thinking about thinking’ or ‘learning to learn’, it can be difficult to describe metacognition in the classroom.

2. Metacognition requires CPD for staff

Teachers, and other educational staff, need to be shown how to develop students’ self-regulation, emotional control, and independence. 

Although metacognition is about learners taking control of their own learning, a teacher’s role is vital to develop pupils’ metacognitive skills and strategies to empower them to do so.

3. Metacognition requires careful planning 

Metacognition is most effective when embedded in a school’s curriculum and a specific subject lesson. As the EEF report states, “without cognition, there is no metacognition”. 

Introducing new content alongside metacognitive skills can cause cognitive overload, which can hinder the learning process. Metacognitive teaching activities should be strategically integrated to avoid disrupting the ongoing learning process.

Organising the planning process with the aid of templates, teacher modelling, worked examples, and breaking down tasks into smaller steps can prove advantageous in achieving this objective.

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How do I teach metacognition in the classroom?

TThere is no one set way to improve students’ metacognition.

To help students develop metacognitive skills, EEF recommends that teachers incorporate it alongside subject content rather than dedicating separate classes to ‘learning to learn’ or ‘thinking skills’. Students often struggle to apply generic tips to their subject-specific learning, which can make these types of classes ineffective. 

Therefore, teachers should integrate metacognitive strategies into their regular lessons to help students improve their learning and thinking processes. One way to do this is through a seven-step model for learning different subject content at different phases and ages:

• Activating prior knowledge
• Explicit strategy instruction
• Modelling of learned strategy
• Memorisation of strategy
• Guided practice
• Independent practice
• Structured reflection

Want to see this in action and how Third Space Learning teaches metacognition in our one to one maths tutoring? Read our blog on teaching metacognitive skills.

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Metacognition: Tips for teachers

Metacognitive strategies empower learners to think about their own thinking. This metacognitive awareness of the learning process enhances their control over their own learning and enhances personal capacity for self-regulation and managing one’s own motivation for learning.

Here’s how teachers can call upon learners’ executive functions to build metacognition:  

• Embed metacognitive strategies into the curriculum.
• Model thinking skills and study strategies in the classroom.
• Use metacognitive talk and encourage self-reflection: what did I learn about this topic that I did not know before? What content was challenging to learn? Do I understand it now? Why did I make the mistakes that I did? Where did I go wrong?
• Encourage learner independence and get parents on board.