Meta-cognitive and self regulation strategies
Categories: English / Mathematics / Primary / Science / Secondary

What is it?

Meta-cognitive strategies are teaching approaches which make learners think about learning more explicitly in the classroom. This is usually through teaching pupils strategies to plan, monitor and evaluate their own learning. It is usually more effective in small groups so learners can support each other and make their thinking explicit through discussion. Self-regulation refers to managing one’s own motivation towards learning as well as the more cognitive aspects of thinking and reasoning.

How effective is it?

Meta-cognitive approaches have a consistently high levels of impact with meta-analyses reporting effect sizes between 0.59 and 0.73. These are substantial gains equivalent to moving a class from 50th place in a league table of 100 schools to about 25th. Encouragingly there is also evidence it is particularly helpful for low achieving pupils.

Impact summary: + 8 months (effect size .67)

How secure is the evidence?

There are a number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of programmes and approaches which promote thinking about thinking which have consistently found similar levels of impact.

Strength of the evidence:

What are the costs?

The costs are relatively low, though many studies report the benefits of professional development and/or outside support, or an inquiry approach for teachers where they actively evaluate the use of the strategies as they use them in the classroom.

Cost summary: ££

How applicable is it?

The evidence suggests that it tends to be more effective with older pupils, and is beneficial for lower achieving students. Most of the studies have looked at the effects on English (reading and writing) or mathematics, though there is some evidence from other areas of the curriculum such as science, suggesting the benefits are likely to be more widely applicable.

Further information:

There is an Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) digest in the USA which provides a sound basic overview, if a little dated: http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9218/developing.htm

Examples of metacognitive strategies can be found at: http://academic.pgcc.edu/~wpeirce/MCCCTR/metacognition.htm

.