What does metacognition refer to?

Metacognition refers to the awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. This concept encompasses the ability to think about and regulate one's learning by recognizing how well one understands and believes they can control their cognitive activities. It involves strategies such as planning how to approach a learning task, monitoring comprehension, and evaluating the effectiveness of learning strategies.

By thinking about thinking, individuals can assess their knowledge and skills, identify areas for improvement, and apply different strategies to enhance their learning outcomes. This self-reflective practice is crucial for effective learning because it allows educators and students alike to optimize their approaches to acquiring new knowledge. The other options do not capture the essence of metacognition as accurately, as they focus on emotions, understanding others, or memorization rather than the reflective thinking aspect central to metacognition.