A metacognitive view of individual differences in self-regulated learning

Metacognition's roles in self-regulation of cognitive tactics and strategies is explored in relation to five sites where individual difference factors are likely to be observed and affect performance: domain knowledge, knowledge of tactics and strategies, performance of tactics and strategies, regulation of tactics and strategies, and global dispositions. Though the current literature is sparse, tentative hypotheses about kinds of individual differences and their impact are proposed. Directions for future research are noted concerning the need for more sophisticated metacognitively-based models of SRL as a complex collection of individual differences, and some suggestions are made about methodologies for investigating complex, metacognitively regulated approaches to learning.     

Evaluation of the development of metacognitive knowledge supported by the knowcat system

The aim of this study was to examine the development of the metacognitive knowledge of a group of higher education students who participated actively in an experiment based on a Computer Supported Collaborative Learning environment called KnowCat. Eighteen university students participated in a 12-month learning project during which the KnowCat learning environment was used to support scaffolding process among equals during problem-solving tasks. After using KnowCat, the students were interviewed over their work in this shared workspace. Qualitative analysis revealed that the educational application of KnowCat can favour and improve the development of metacognitive knowledge.     

元认知知识在外语阅读教学中的作用

20世纪70年代以来,Flavell对元认知知识进行了诸多研究。他认为,元认知知识是个体已获得的世界知识的一部分,元认知知识对外语阅读教学的重要作用在于：有利于发展学习的自主性、有利于提高学习的动机、有利于增强学习的责任感、有利于发挥元认知策略的有效性、有利于鉴别学习的阅读品质。     

Confidence to spare: individual differences in cognitive and metacognitive arrogance and competence

Metacognition and Learning - While some individuals are able to confidently make competent choices, others make poor decisions but are unjustifiably confident. What are their individual...     

元认知策略训练对高中生英语阅读能力的影响

本研究基于心理语言学和第二语言习得理论,运用实验对比法,研究了元认知策略训练对高中学生元认知策略的使用频率、阅读自主性以及阅读能力的影响,并提出一些相关的教学建议。     

Writing proficiency level and writing development of low-achieving adolescents: the roles of linguistic knowledge,fluency, and metacognitive knowledge

In a longitudinal design, 51 low-achieving adolescents’ development in writing proficiency from Grades 7 to 9 was measured. There were 25 native-Dutch and 26 language-minority students. In addition, the roles of (1) linguistic knowledge, (2) metacognitive knowledge, and (3) linguistic fluency in predicting both the level and development of writing proficiency were assessed. Low-achieving students improved in writing proficiency, the language-minority students more so than the native-Dutch students. Regarding the level of writing proficiency, individual differences between low achieving adolescents could be accounted for by receptive vocabulary, grammatical knowledge, and speed of sentence verification, suggesting that these are important components in low-achieving adolescents’ writing. Regarding development in writing proficiency, grammatical knowledge predicted variation between low-achieving students. Explanations and educational implications of these findings are discussed.     

Individual differences in local and global metacognitive judgments

Metacognition and Learning - Extensive research has been conducted to understand how accurately students monitor their studying and performance via metacognitive judgments. Moreover, the bases of...     

Assessment of metacognitive knowledge in students with special educational needs

This study investigated whether and, if so, how metacognitive knowledge can be assessed validly in students with special educational needs in a large-scale assessment like the German National Educational Panel Study. In total, 804 sixth-grade students including both regular school students attending the lowest track of secondary education (Hauptschule) and students with special educational needs in learning participated in the study. A scenario-based test of metacognitive knowledge focusing primarily on different aspects of strategy knowledge was implemented. In order to investigate optimal testing conditions, two conditions that varied in terms of administration mode were compared: autonomous reading as in regular test settings and a read-aloud condition. Reading speed and reasoning abilities were assessed as control variables. As expected, regular school students outperformed students with special educational needs in the metacognitive knowledge test. In addition, higher correlations between metacognitive knowledge and reading speed emerged in the autonomous reading condition compared to the read-aloud condition. Contrary to our expectations, a differential boost due to the testing accommodation of reading aloud was, however, only observed in regular students but not in students with special educational needs. The results are discussed with regard to educational and assessment-relevant approaches.     

The ability to estimate knowledge and performance in college: A metacognitive analysis

While in college students learn a great deal of new knowledge, and over time successful students learn to update their knowledge as new concepts, facts, and procedures are acquired. The metacognitive ability to accurately estimate one's knowledge was hypothesized to be related to academic achievement in college. The two studies reported in this paper examined the relationship between a measure of metacognitive word knowledge (the KMA) and performance in college. Using undergraduate gpa in a number of academic domains as criterion measures, this research provides support for the validity of the KMA as a predictor of success in college. Suggestions for further research relating performance on the KMA to learning in complex domains are offered.     

Beyond individual behaviour change: the role of power,knowledge and strategy in tackling climate change

Individual behaviour change is fast becoming a kind of ‘holy grail’ to tackle climate change, in environmental policy, the environmental movement and academic literature. This is contested by those who claim that social structures are the main problem and who advocate collective social action. The objective of the research presented in this paper is to better understand why environmentally concerned citizens choose one of these two types of engagement. Our focus is on the role of experiences of and/or convictions about power in shaping this choice. Within the framework of an explorative qualitative study, we engaged in in-depth interviews with 12 young environmentally concerned citizens. On this basis, five main findings are elaborated. Firstly, powerlessness is shown to be a crucial experience, whatever the respondents’ engagement. Secondly, ‘strategy scepticism’ seems to be a more important obstacle for engagement than ‘climate scepticism’. Thirdly, many respondents express significant resistance towards being ‘conditioned’ by awareness-raising campaigns. Fourthly, a ‘gap’ is observed between respondents’ analysis and their strategy proposals. Finally, we underscore another important gap between concrete and abstract levels in respondents’ discourses. All these findings disclose paradoxical aspects of the role of power in shaping the concerned citizens’ engaged choices.     

大学英语语音教学中元认知策略培训的应用探讨

元认知主要是学习者对自身学习资源与实际学习情况的认知,不断积极对自身学习活动作出合理规划、监控,以及评价。本文通过简要介绍在英语语音教学中元认知策略培训的重要性,对实际应用进行了阐述,并通过调查数据与研究做出详细分析。     

Nonshared environmental influences on individual differences in early behavioral development: a monozygotic twin differences study

The monozygotic (MZ) twin differences method was used to investigate nonshared environmental (NSE) influences independent of genetics. Four-year-old MZ twin pairs (N = 2,353) were assessed by their parents on 2 parenting measures (harsh parental discipline and negative parental feelings) and 4 behavioral measures (anxiety, prosocial behavior, hyperactivity, and conduct problems). Within-pair differences in parenting correlated significantly with MZ differences in behavior, with an average effect size of 3%. For the extreme 10% of the parenting-discordant and behavior-discordant distributions, the average NSE effect size was substantially greater (11%), suggesting a stronger NSE relationship for more discordant twins. NSE relationships were also stronger in higher risk environments, that is, families with lower socioeconomic status, greater family chaos, or greater maternal depression.     

小学高年级儿童元认知发展特点及干预

以自编修订的《儿童元认知问卷》,对420名儿童（其中学习不良儿童96人）进行测试,结果发现：该阶段非学习不良儿童元认知发展上六年级显著高于四、五年级,不存在性别差异;学习不良儿童元认知发展不存在年级差异,他们在元认知整体水平以及六个维度上均显著落后于一般儿童和成绩优秀儿童;此外,以小学四年级学生为被试,考察了开展元认知训练的意义。研究发现,元认知训练可以较好地促进该阶段儿童元认知水平的提高,元认知训练对学生学业成就有着积极影响。     

元认知策略对改善大学生认知效能的实证研究

基于元认知理论的本质和大学公共英语教学的特点,选取90名非英语专业大学生进行了元认知策略意识培养的教学实验。实验表明,元认知策略的使用与英语成绩的提高呈显著正相关,在英语教学过程中有意识地进行元认知策略培养对改善大学生的认知效能是积极有效的。     

The National Literacy Strategy and individual differences

This is a discussion paper reflecting on the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) after one year of operation. It is argued that, despite claims that it has already had an effect on KS2 SAT (Standardised Assessment Test) performance, it is too soon to make such a judgement. Questions are raised about whether it is wise to use a non‐professional group of assistants to provide the Additional Literacy Support for at risk children in Key Stage 2 or the Key Stage 1 Intervention Programme. It is argued that those children who show atypical development need the most qualified and highly skilled teachers. Finally, it is argued that once the NLS becomes established it will be necessary for all teachers to engage with the research literature so that they teach from a position of professional understanding of the processes involved in reading and writing development.     

The effect of problem-based learning on the metacognitive awareness of pre-service science teachers

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of problem-based learning (PBL) on the metacognitive awareness of pre-service science teachers. In the study, an experimental design with pre-test/post-test control group was used. A total of 51 junior pre-service science teachers participated in the study. The study was carried out over 10 weeks and within the scope of an environmental science course. During the study, lessons in the experimental group were processed using a PBL approach while lessons in the control group were processed using a traditional teaching approach. Data were collected through a personal information form and Metacognitive Awareness Inventory. Data were then analysed using PASW Statistics 18 (SPSS Inc.). The findings of the study revealed that PBL could be an effective intervention to promote metacognitive awareness towards procedural knowledge, planning and debugging. The results are discussed based on the findings of the study.     

英文写作成功者与不成功者的元认知知识对比研究——一项针对中国英语专业大学生的实证调查

写作者的元认知知识在复杂的写作认知活动中起着重要的作用,不同水平的写作者具有不同的元认知知识。通过实证调查对比研究中国英语专业大学生中英文成功写作者与不成功写作者在元认知知识方面的异同点,并与现存的相关发现作一比较,以期为写作教学提供有益启示。