Metacognitive Study Strategies Notes

What is metacognition and why should I care?

  • Metacognition = thinking about how you think and learn.
  • Key idea: self-reflective questions to take inventory of:
    • where you currently are (what you already know)
    • how you learn (what is working and what is not)
    • where you want to be (whether you've mastered the material)
  • Why it matters:
    • Makes you a self-aware problem solver and gives you control over your learning
    • Enables you to be strategic: assess what you know, what you need to work on, and how best to learn new material
  • Significance and practical implications:
    • Supports self-regulated learning and continuous improvement
    • Helps you tailor study plans to your strengths and gaps
    • Increases efficiency and effectiveness of studying, with better alignment to exam and course demands

Strategies for using metacognition when you study

  • Use your syllabus as a roadmap

    • The syllabus often includes a course schedule, reading list, and learning objectives that reveal the course structure
    • Use this roadmap to guide your study plan and expectations for what comes next
    • For reading-based courses:
    • Consider why readings are in a particular order and how they connect
    • Identify key themes you notice across readings
    • Reflect on prior knowledge that can inform your reading of new material
    • Plan to revisit the syllabus at multiple points in the semester as you gain new knowledge to piece together the overall structure

  • Summon your prior knowledge

    • Before you read or attend a lecture, look at the topic and ask:
    • What do I already know about this?
    • What questions do I have?
    • What do I hope to learn?
    • Why this helps:
    • Provides context for what you are about to learn
    • Helps you build a framework for integrating new information
    • Promotes deeper engagement with the material
    • This can be done repeatedly throughout the semester as you gain more information

  • Before you read your textbook or attend a lecture

    • (This section reinforces the prior knowledge step and sets up anticipatory thinking)
    • Ask yourself what you know, what you want to know, and how this material fits with what you already understand
    • Use these reflections to frame reading and listening activities and enhance comprehension

  • Think aloud

    • Verbalize your thinking while you work through material, problem-solving, or complex concepts
    • You can talk to classmates, a tutor, or even a pet to articulate thoughts
    • Benefits:
    • Makes thinking visible and helps you internalize material
    • In problem-solving courses, explaining steps aloud ensures you understand them and reveals gaps
    • Use this to test your understanding by asking yourself questions about what you are doing and why

  • Ask yourself questions

    • Central metacognitive practice: ask self-reflective questions to monitor understanding
    • Examples of questions you can ask:
    • Does this answer make sense given the information provided?
    • What strategy did I use to solve this problem that was helpful?
    • How does this information conflict with my prior understanding?
    • How does this information relate to what we learned last week?
    • What questions will I ask myself next time I'm working these types of problems?
    • What is confusing about this topic?
    • What are the relationships between these two concepts?
    • What conclusions can I make?
    • Encourage brainstorming additional questions to deepen engagement and self-assessment

  • Use writing

    • Rationale: writing supports metacognition by capturing thoughts, reflections, and plans
    • Practical use (examples):
    • Maintain brief post-study reflections to articulate what was learned and what remains unclear
    • Write concise summaries of concepts to confirm understanding
    • Keep a learning journal to track progress, strategies that work, and adjustments needed

  • Plan to incorporate these strategies regularly

    • Reflect on which strategies resonate with you
    • Integrate chosen strategies into your regular study routine
    • Periodically review and adjust based on what’s effective

  • Practical implications and real-world relevance

    • Metacognitive practices help you adapt to different courses and assessment formats
    • They support lifelong learning by promoting self-monitoring and adjustment over time
    • Encourages proactive study planning, reducing wasted effort and improving performance