Child & Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles LET REVIEWER
Lesson 22: John Flavell's Theory of Metacognition
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John H. Flavell
John Flavell (1928–2025) was a prominent American developmental psychologist and Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, widely recognized as the founding father of the theory of metacognition. His work was heavily inspired by the theories of the renowned Swiss cognitive psychologist Jean Piaget, whose research Flavell helped introduce to the English-speaking world with his influential 1963 book, The Developmental Psychology of Jean Piaget.
Flavell developed the concept of metacognition (literally "beyond cognition" or "thinking about thinking") primarily to understand why individuals, particularly children, often fail at problem-solving or learning tasks even when they possess the necessary skills.
METACOGNITION (John Flavell)
- Thinking about thinking
- Learning how to learn
Metacognition means “thinking about thinking.” It is the ability to understand and control how you think and learn. The metacognition helps people become aware of their own learning processes. In simple terms, it is learning how to learn.
When you use metacognition, you are aware of what you know, what you do not know, and what strategies you can use to improve your understanding. It involves planning before learning, monitoring your progress while learning, and evaluating what you have learned afterward.
- Ex. When a student prepares for a test, they first think about which topics they understand well and which ones need more review (planning). During study time, they check if they are really understanding the material (monitoring). After the test, they think about what study methods worked best and what to improve next time (evaluating).
Three Categories of Metacognitive Knowledge
John Flavell described three main categories that explain how people use the three metacognitive knowledge: person variables, task variables, and strategy variables.
1. Person Variables - refers to what you know about yourself and others as learners. It includes understanding how people learn, think, and remember, as well as knowing your own strengths and weaknesses in learning.
- Ex. You might know that you learn better by reading quietly rather than by listening to a lecture. This awareness helps you choose learning methods that work best for you.
2. Task Variables - these involve understanding the nature of the learning task and what it requires from you. It means knowing how difficult a task is and what kind of effort or strategies you need to complete it.
- Ex. If you know that writing an essay takes more time and focus than answering multiple-choice questions, you will plan your time and effort differently.
3. Strategy Variables - this includes knowing which learning strategies to use and how effective they are. It is about being aware of the methods that help you understand and remember information. Strategy variables also include two specific types of awareness:
- Meta-attention: This means knowing how to keep your focus on a task. For example, you might study in a quiet place to avoid distractions.
- Meta-memory: This refers to knowing what memory techniques work best for you. For example, using flashcards or repetition to remember key terms.
Theory of Metacognition Quiz: click here
“If you truly understand, comment your reflection in at least 3-5 sentences or more about this lesson.”
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