Thinking+about+my+thinking+(metacognition)

= Thinking about my thinking (metacognition) = If you were asked, "Tell us what went on in your head to come up with that conclusion?" Would you say, "I don't know I just did it?"

Thinking about my thinking (also known as metacognition) is a tough strategy, and really makes one think about what goes on in their head, and why it helps them. In my case, I thought about my thinking and I realized that I am a very visual learner, and learn through experience and repetition. This came in great benefit to me when in chemistry class we began to learn about Moles, number of particles, and Avogadro's number. When all three of these components were involved in one question, it brought up a lot of difficulty for me just to memorize what exactly what one of these complicated terms meant. This is when my metacognition came in to play and made me realize what made me learn best. By studying the picture below, it may help you follow my train of thought, and understand my metacognition.

Because I have trouble remembering exactly what n (moles) or N (number of particles) or 6.02x10^23 (Avogadro's number) mean, by using this formula as an image, I was able to remember what each of the individual elements were, and how they combined together to form a complete answer. It was almost as if the image I placed on this website was the exact image that sticks in my head which helps me visualize and understand the concept it has to offer. By using this formula, I also started to rearrange it, which is seen in the picture by my handwriting below the equation. By rearranging the formula through simple mathematics, instead of solving for n (moles), I was now solving for N (number of particles). By making these connections, I was able to visualize and understand this concept more and more. It all started to make sense to me. I realized by thinking about my thinking that this is the way that makes me learn best. By memorizing this formula, and applying it in many examples during class, I started to understand this new and unknown topic. Soon I began to feel more confident in myself for understanding more, and began to solve these questions with more confidence and faith in myself.

By thinking about my thinking, I have realized the best way for me to study and learn, and will now come in great advantage with my further years of studying in college, which I'm sure the other students won't have studied their metacognition as thoroughly as I have now.