Metacognitive Strategies
Metacognitive strategies are thoughts and behaviors that are intended to increase an individuals understanding and control of their reading and study. These strategies give students an active role in learning and allow them to create an understanding of the material prior to starting a lesson or task. Metacognitive strategies are important for reading comprehension, and are important for metacognitive awareness in all aspects of learning.
Metacognitive strategies can be divided into four primary sub-categories. These are planning, monitoring, evaluating, and adapting. Each of these involves deliberate thinking about how one will go about completing a task, and the type of strategies employed can vary in form and complexity.
Planning is considered to be the first step when embarking on any reading activity. When planning, students must use critical thinking to determine what they already know and what they need to learn or investigate, set goals and objectives, and identify strategies they will use to complete the task. Planning is also important to allow students to allocate their time and resources effectively and efficiently.
Monitoring is the concept of actively monitoring and evaluating one’s understanding of the material as it is read. This particular sub-category of metacognitive strategies facilitates classroom discussion and provides students with a deeper understanding of the text and its purpose.
Evaluating is the third step of metacognitive strategies, and involves reflection on the task and its completion. This requires students to analyze the reading, identify what information needs to be reinforced and clarified, and consider ways that the material could be more effective or engaging.
Adapting is the last step of metacognitive strategies and is essential for students to adjust their strategies and use of resources as they read. This step allows students to form a strong understanding and interpretation of the text and to identify material that could be better comprehended. In addition, adapting allows students to be flexible in their approach and avoid creating rigid routines.
In summary, metacognitive strategies are cognitive processes that facilitate and support learning. Planning, monitoring, evaluating, and adapting are all integral steps in helping students to become engaged and take control of their learning. Utilizing these strategies helps students to not just understand the material, but also develop an internal critique and formulate a deeper understanding. Although these strategies may take additional time and effort, the long-term benefits are quite effective and are essential for successful learners.
