Metacognition refers to an intentional focusing of attention on a process in which one is personally engaged. It encourages awareness of one’s current state of accomplishment, along with the emotional and situational influences and strategy choices that are currently, or have previously, influenced accomplishment of that process. Through metacognition, one should become better able to accurately judge one’s progress, and select and engage in strategies that will lead to success.

More succinctly, metacognition is the use of reflective awareness to make timely adjustments (self-regulation) to behaviors that support a goal-directed process (e.g. learning, teaching, driving, cooking, writing, athletics, music).

This web site primarily will focus on the process of learning academic materials and skills, with an emphasis on metacognition related to learning within the higher education environment.  A second emphasis will be the process of teaching, i.e. metacognitive instruction. Some of the examples also provide insights related to metacognition in everyday life.