Learning, Knowledge and Human Development MOOC’s Updates

Metacognition - Learning Science.

One area of the learning sciences is "metacognition," which involves understanding and regulating one's own cognitive processes, such as problem-solving, memory, and decision-making. Educational psychology contributes significantly to our understanding of metacognition by offering evidence, interpretative concepts, and theories:

**Evidence:**
- Educational psychology research provides evidence that metacognition plays a vital role in learning. Studies have shown that students who are aware of their cognitive processes, set goals, monitor their progress, and adjust their strategies perform better academically.

**Interpretative Concepts and Theories:**
- Educational psychologists have developed theories and models of metacognition, such as Flavell's theory, which includes metacognitive knowledge (what we know about our own cognition) and metacognitive control (how we use that knowledge to regulate learning).
- Concepts like "self-regulated learning" are crucial in understanding how individuals actively control and adapt their learning processes to achieve goals. This involves planning, monitoring, and evaluating one's learning strategies.

**Applications:**
- Educational psychology informs practical applications. Teachers can use metacognitive strategies like think-alouds to model their thinking processes, encourage students to set learning goals, and provide opportunities for reflection.
- Assessment methods that consider metacognition, such as self-assessment and reflective journals, can help students develop their metacognitive skills.

In summary, educational psychology contributes to our understanding of metacognition by providing evidence of its significance, offering interpretative concepts and theories, and suggesting practical applications that help students become more effective and autonomous learners by understanding and regulating their cognitive processes.

  • Danelle Erasmus
  • Danelle Erasmus