Metacognition

 An 8-year-old is assembling a LEGO set and notices the final product doesn’t look right. Instead of becoming frustrated, they say, “I think I made a mistake earlier,” and start reviewing the steps to fix it. This self-awareness and ability to evaluate their own process shows emerging metacognition. 

 After receiving a poor grade on a test, a teenager reflects and realizes they spent more time memorizing than understanding. They revise their study methods for the next test, such as summarizing concepts in their own words. This demonstrates the ability to think about how they learn and plan improvements. 

  After a presentation didn’t go well, the adult reflects, “I rushed through the intro and didn’t check in with the audience.” Next time, they rehearse with a colleague and adjust their pacing. This ability to self-reflect and adapt indicates strong metacognitive skills.