Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-2-metacognition

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Teacher CPD](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd.md) › [CPD: Talking To Parents about Learning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning.md) › Metacognition

# Metacognition

CPD: Talking To Parents about Learning (by Patrice Bain), topic 1.2.2

## “Four Steps of Metacognition” - Example

### Retrieval Cards

![Retrieval Cards](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/42ef5fbc-1892-43f2-894e-80aa5d712c18/white-card-.jpg)

- Have the definition on the card leaving the term blank (or vice versa).
- Complete the card using the Four Steps of Metacognition (details follow).
- Learners have the opportunity to retrieve the material and get the feedback as to accuracy.

### Step 1

![Step 1](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-06/c1d1c9a1-ce98-4906-9b4a-763357951d14/step1-1.jpg)

- Without the use of books or notes, a student makes the judgement of learning: 
 - Do I know this or not?  
- A simple star indicates “I know it;” a question mark reflects the answer isn’t known.

### Step 2

![Step 2](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-06/2852a728-a8f9-4d18-8531-8ade4688f9ba/2-step-2.jpg)

- Step 2 is answering questions that are known.  
- This is an important step because sometimes we *think* we know an answer, but we don’t.

### Step 3

![Step 3](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-06/2eb4aa45-a450-4cd1-bdfc-b48f19760c26/3-three-number-.jpg)

- Step 3 is the first time the student opens up a book or notes, finds the answer, and writes it down.

### Step 4

![Step 4](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/b9b4b565-883a-43f5-8f77-573d5d0f9d2b/4-number-.jpg)

- Step 4 is double-checking, verifying, that what they thought they knew is correct.

### Observation

![Observation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/c31b1931-a6f7-4ff4-bf20-90e5ee604386/customer-experience-3024488_1920.jpg)

- Students should not change the question mark to a star after they get the right answer.
-  One of the purposes of the Four Steps is for students to make that judgment of learning and to readily identify the areas that require focus. 
 -  Keeping with the original judgment aids the process.

## Test yourself on Metacognition

- What is "thinking about thinking?"

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/1953aa1b-a24e-48c2-9b11-6ac617481b15/section/d1af7e3d-8807-4afd-9055-1a49f0502973/session)

- Previous topic: [1.2.1 Retrieval Practice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-1-retrieval-practice.md)
- Next topic: [1.2.3 Spacing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-3-spacing.md)

## CPD: Talking To Parents about Learning (by Patrice Bain) contents

### 1 Talking to Parents about Learning
- 1.1 How do we Learn?
  - [1.1.1 How do we Learn?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-1-1-how-do-we-learn.md)
  - [1.1.2 Memory and the Brain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-1-2-memory-and-the-brain.md)
  - [1.1.3 Cognitive Overload & Desirable Difficulties](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-1-3-cognitive-overload-and-desirable-difficulties.md)
- 1.2 Powerful Learning
  - [1.2.1 Retrieval Practice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-1-retrieval-practice.md)
  - [1.2.2 Metacognition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-2-metacognition.md)
  - [1.2.3 Spacing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-3-spacing.md)
- 1.3 Learning Tips for Home
  - [1.3.1 Learning Tips for Home](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-3-1-learning-tips-for-home.md)