Metacognition and critical-thinking - Critical Thinking Secrets

Two terms we usually confuse with each other are Critical Thinking and Metacognition. Even though they both describe the skill of being aware of thinking processes and their possible outcomes, metacognition is a bit more complicated. To fully understand both terms properly, we need to examine their similarities and differences.

Contents

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking mostly means putting into practice theoretical frameworks and concepts. This skill is quite necessary because of its ability to allow us to face real-life issues better. When we learn how to critically think and process information, we immediately become smarter consumers, civilians, and people. We are also able to comprehend hidden meanings and to criticize better and more constructively.

Also, when our critical thinking skills are used we can engage in conflict with well-reasoned arguments (in favor; against a party involved).

Overall, critical thinking works as a way of perceiving reality, while it provides us with more ways of dealing with daily life issues.

Critical thinking skills though, need to be practiced, learned, and constantly improved. As critical thinking is not a set of skills that we acquire when we are born, we need to learn it, and how to practice it. This is often achieved through school-college and real-life events that challenge us and require some special treatment that urges us to think differently, and from another perspective.

Also, as our life changes, we need to be “equipped with” the appropriate critical thinking skills that will help us face any kind of situation. This usually occurs by having many challenging experiences, that offer us many new characteristics.

Taking into consideration the fact that a lot of us learn how to “critically think” at school, the educational field should be able to promote such skills and make sure that critical thinking is taught during every class/lesson.

Unfortunately, this is not what occurs. Conventional teaching and learning methods are still used, and they do not support critical thinking at all. In fact, they promote “rigid” learning and most of the time, too theoretical that can’t be applied in real-life situations. That results in students not being able to remember what they have learned, let alone apply all that information in various situations.

When defining this term, we need to take into account four traits.

Foundation skills: This category of skills consists of basic skills that also fall under the umbrella of critical thinking skills. For example, proper speculations about an issue, constructing an argument with facts, and doubting the credibility of a piece of information, are all independent skills that, in this case, constitute a foundation base for critical thinking.
Knowledge base: This includes the context that allows us to apply our skills. For example, academic knowledge is a good part of this category as real-life events that require critical thinking from the participants, are.
Willingness to question: This category describes the personal attitude of a person towards critical thinking, and towards practices that demand critical thinking. For example, some people avoid events that require critical thinking because they perceive it as difficult or too challenging.
Self-reflection: This category means Metacognition, which we are going to examine below.

Metacognition

Metacognition, or the “Self-reflection” dimension of Critical Thinking, is a more theoretical and personal concept. It describes our perspective and reflection on our thinking processes. That is why it is also called “Self-reflection”. Because, with Metacognition we can evaluate the efficacy of our thinking procedures before, during, and after an issue.

Basically, Metacognition is the level after critical thinking. It allows us to examine our critical thinking abilities a bit more clearly, and to reflect on their usefulness. It is a slower procedure, and it requires good observation skills, regarding our critical thinking attitude.

In addition, we can control Metacognition, since it is our reflection. Metacognition is a rather new concept and somewhat difficult to examine since it heavily relies on personal thoughts and reflections that are not caused by external factors ( educational field).

Differences

When it comes to the differences these concepts have, there are 4 points to consider:

When using critical thinking, we usually know our goal and expected result ( resolving an issue, reaching a conclusion). However, when we use Metacognition, we are aware of the efficiency of our thinking processes and methods, rather than the outcome of our critical thinking.
In general, Critical thinking is more supported, in comparison with Metacognition. For example, educational institutions recognize Creative thinking as a useful tool, when Metacognition is not discussed ( very rarely).
Overall, Critical Thinking is more directly applicable to real-life situations than Metacognition. Thus, critical thinking is much easier and less complicated.
Metacognition is more personal than critical thinking. Critical thinking- as mentioned above- is also highly affected by interaction with other people and with external factors. Metacognition is purely personal, as it is a reflection.

Similarities: Metacognition and critical-thinking

Regarding the similarities between these two concepts, three points need to be considered:

Critical thinking and metacognition need a lot of practice. They both include skills that work better when practiced frequently. However, critical thinking comes first, as Metacognition is a reflection of it (hence, it makes sense for Metacognition to come second).
Both Critical thinking and metacognition are very much needed. They might have different goals, but they complete each other as concepts.
Also, they both “require awareness of the relevant procedures”. That means that during both procedures, we learn more when we are conscious of the skills and tools we are using.

On An Ending Note

To sum up, the concept of Critical Thinking and the concept of Metacognition share some elements, but they are also very different from each other. Even though they both are necessary, Critical thinking (as the first level) needs to be more promoted and supported, when Metacognition (the second level) needs to be a concept that people raise awareness of, especially in the educational and academic domain.