Q. How do you define metacognition?
Metacognition means thinking about thinking — the ability of the human brain to monitor its own cognition in order to shape and control future behaviour. For example, a student who believes she has studied enough for an upcoming exam is making a metacognitive decision about the strength of her memory. She’s not getting any feedback about her learning, but she’s able to utilize this assessment to decide whether to stop studying or continue working.
Q. Are there lessons from the lab about decision-making that can be applied to everyday life?
[This article has been reprinted, with permission, from Rotman Management, the magazine of the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management]