Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Metacognition refers to the awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes and learning strategies. In an educational context, it involves self-reflection on how a learner approaches tasks, recognizes their learning methods, and evaluates their understanding and effectiveness in acquiring new information. This self-awareness allows learners to adjust their strategies to improve learning outcomes, making it a crucial element in becoming effective and autonomous learners.

While understanding emotional responses, memorizing information effectively, and applying knowledge to real-world situations are important aspects of learning, they do not capture the essence of metacognition. Metacognition specifically emphasizes the processes related to thinking about how one learns and the strategies involved in that process, which is key to enhancing educational experiences and outcomes.