Metacognition, or 'thinking about thinking', can improve scientific literacy and practices. It involves knowledge of cognition, i. e., being cognisant of one's knowledge, and regulation of cognition, i. e., consciously controlling the process of knowledge acquisition. A self-regulated learner can assimilate new knowledge, conduct inquiry, solve problems and plan ahead his or her learning. While studies have been conducted on metacognition in chemistry education, none have included detailed assignments covering a range of metacognitive strategies. Our review of studies on metacognition in chemistry secondary and higher education also includes also several exemplary assignments on the energy topic for facilitating and assessing metacognition in high school classrooms. We use metacognitive prompts and the construct of chemistry understanding levels, macroscopic, microscopic, symbol, and process, as an approach for metacognitive intervention. Finally, we provide recommendations for educators and a rubric for researchers.
Metacognition and Self-Regulated LearningFlavell [11] (1979) defined metacognition as 'knowledge and cognition about cognitive phenomena'. Flavell, Miller, and Miller, [12] who surveyed the large body of literature on metacognition since the 1970s, similarly defined metacognition as 'cognition about cognition'. While the science education literature provides various definitions for metacognition, Jacobs and Paris [13] identified two broad categories, or aspects, that often emerge in most of these definitions: knowledge about cognition, and regulation of cognition. According to Brown, [14] knowledge of cognition is relatively stable, often can be stated, can be fallible and is age dependent, while regulation of cognition is relatively unstable and age independent. Table 1 describes each aspect of metacognition in more detail.Students' gain in metacognition resulting from a metacognitive intervention can be assessed by various research tools, including interviews, questionnaires, think aloud protocols, assignments, and observations. [15,16] According to Ackerman and Goldsmith, [17] students' self-perception of their own performance ability is related to their ability to monitor [a] R.