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Metacognitive Strategies

Metacognition The word is derived from the Greek root word "meta" (meaning "beyond") and the Latin word "cognoscere" (meaning "getting to know"). It refers to one’s ability to be aware of their thoughts and choosing a helpful thought process. This allows them to: - analyse how they think,

- have high self - awareness and control of their thoughts, - choose appropriate and helpful strategies for each task.

Metacognitive strategies have been highlighted by the Education Endowment Foundation as one of the most cost - effective ways to help to help students improve for a reason – here are some of the benefits of developing metacognition:

· Metacognition and self - regulation can add up to 7 months of additional progress . · Metacognitive training positively impacts those with a lower baseline of metacognition the most, making it especially helpful for struggling students . · Metacognition has been shown to increase grades by 4% on average, up to 10% for lower performing students. · Metacognitive skills learnt in one situation are transferrable to another. · Self - questioning, a metacognitive strategy, creates stronger connections within the brain, which means better memory. · Being aware of how much you do or don’t know helps avoid the Dunning - Kruger Effect. · Better metacognitive regulation allows students to control their negative thoughts and emotions.

This short animation aims to cut through the complexity by providing a clear example of metacognition in practice.

https://youtu.be/sAik_RQY_Dg