“Metacognition” refers to a learner’s automatic ability to understand, control, and manipulate his or her thinking processes. A person with well developed metacognitive skills can identify and overcome blocks to learning and can bring learning from off-the-job to on-the-job situations and vice versa.
Metacognition includes…
- Metamemory – knowledge of the memory system and the strategies used in a memory task.
- Metacomprehension – ability to understand information being communicated, to recognize failure to comprehend, and to employ repair strategies when failures are identified.
- Self-Regulation – ability to make adjustments in the learning processes in response to perceptions of feedback regarding current status of learning.
Employee trainings emphasizing metacognition skill development…
- Helps employees develop a repertoire of thinking and learning skills.
- Fosters confidence and independence in employees.
- Encourages employees to self-regulate their learning.
- Improves employees’ decision-making and goal-setting skills.
- Enables employees to self-assess the quality of their thinking.
- Helps employees to decide which strategies to use in which situations.
Metacognition structured trainings are different from other trainings…
- The training environment is inclusive, positive, and stimulating.
- Metacognitive thinking is modeled.
- Employees learn metacognitive skills while involved in learning something else.
- Employees are guided toward independently selecting, using, monitoring, and evaluating their use of strategies.
- Opportunities are created for employees to talk about their thinking as part of the work day and to build a thinking vocabulary.
- Acquisition of metacognitive skills is assessed through the use of a metacognitive skill measurement scale.
Metacognitively trained employees…
- Know what is expected of them at work and how to complete tasks.
- Can self-evaluate and recognize when they are doing well.
- Are confident, able to handle stress, and know their strengths/weaknesses
- Are self-motivated, able to manage time and stay focused.
- Can set goals, problem solve and make information meaningful.
through direct instruction, modeling, and practice cultivates engaged
workers; the effective use of metacognitive skills is one of the primary
differences between productive and less productive employees.” ~ Nancy Morris