Challenges to Use Recommender Systems to Enhance Meta-Cognitive Functioning in Online Learners

Background

Strategic selections among recommended learning resources and strategic processing of the selected materials are captured by the concept of meta-cognition. Meta-cognition has been defined as the process of “thinking about thinking” (Flavell, 1976, p 232). It refers to higher-order mental processes involved in learning such as creating learning plans, using appropriate skills and strategies to solve a problem, making estimates of performance, and calibrating the extent of learning (Dunslosky & Thiede, 1998). Examples of meta-cognitive activities are: I am engaging in meta-cognition if I notice that I am having more trouble learning A than B; I realize that this might not be the best way to do this task as I did not see much progress after spending many hours; or it strikes me that I should double check C before deciding to use it to support my argument.

Metacognition involves students’ knowledge about their own cognitive processes and efficient use of the knowledge to regulate these cognitive processes. Accordingly, researchers distinguish between meta-cognitive knowledge and meta-cognitive regulation (Schraw & Dennison, 1994). The former is comprised of declarative knowledge (knowing which learning strategies work and which ones do not work), procedural knowledge (knowing how to use learning strategies), and conditional knowledge (knowing when and why to use strategies). The latter is more concerned with meta-cognitive monitoring and control, such as planning, information management strategies, comprehension monitoring, debugging strategies, and evaluation of progress and goals. Learners make judgments of their learning to monitor their progress and make conscious decisions about learning tasks and learning strategies to control (regulate) their own learning – how to proceed the task with the material, how well the material meets the goals, when and how to adjust the way the material is being used, and so forth. These two components of meta-cognition are highly correlated with each other, so it is possible that they work in unison to enhance academic performance (Schraw & Dennison, 1994). As Schunk and Zimmerman (2006) noted, “[Meta-cognition] requires that one understands what skills, strategies, and resources are required to complete a task as well as how and when to use those skills and strategies” (p. 360). It relates a learner’s knowledge of personal characteristics, knowledge of the task to be completed and knowledge of the strategies available, to those strategies used to select, execute, monitor and control tasks (Flavell, 1979).