Chapter 5 – Metacognition and Metacognitive Strategies
Four Levels of Metacognitive Learning
Faith Adler; Bibi Halima; and Keli Yerian
Preview Questions
- What are the four levels of metacognitive learning?
- How do these levels reflect varying degrees of awareness?
There are four levels of metacognitive learning, all representing different degrees of how aware we are of our own learning and utilization of learning strategies as Perkins (1992) first introduced them. As we spend more time thinking about how we think, we can see ourselves moving through each of these stages. Even when we use metacognition effectively, there will be times when we transition in and out of some of the “levels”, and this is a completely natural part of metacognition. As you read these descriptions, reflect on where you currently stand, and where you hope to be.
Tacit
Tacit learning is when we are unfamiliar with the metacognitive process and do not think about our thinking or reflect on our learning. We are unaware of our strengths and weaknesses and which strategies are most beneficial for us.
Aware
Aware learning is when we have some familiarity and are aware of our thinking. However, we are not always intentional with our thinking and utilizing the metacognitive process. We may be aware of our strengths and weaknesses but do not know how to implement strategies that work best for us.
Strategic
Strategic learning is when we are familiar with metacognition and our own thinking. We are mostly able to use the metacognitive process to better complete tasks and goals. We implement strategies that take into account our strengths and weaknesses.
Reflective
Reflective learning is when we are very familiar with the metacognitive process and are conscious and intentional with our thinking and learning. We not only implement strategies that are most effective for us, but we also monitor our learning and reflect throughout our task in order to readjust when something is ineffective.
Metacognitive Learning Levels Drag and Drop Exercise
One very effective metacognitive strategy is being able to identify realistic, doable goals for yourself, whether it’s for language learning or anything else. Let’s turn to the next section to see what these can look like.
References
Perkins, D. (1992). Smart schools: Better thinking and learning for every child. Free Press.
Media Attributions
All original illustrations on this page © Addy Orsi are licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 (Attribution NonCommercial) license.