The purpose of this book is to equip ordinary people from all walks of life with the core skills of life-long learning and their achievement of exceptional results. Whether in the classroom, board room, or anywhere in between, the process of learning is universal. Those who master key learning techniques and apply them to everyday life are people who are destined for success.

Your first next step should be on learning something worthwhile that can give you results — let's say your desired lifestyle. So, you might need to major in majors and focus on understanding over memorization. Doing this will give you clarity on the path of knowledge.

Metacognition is a term first coined by psychologist John Flavell in the 1970s. And this term refers to the awareness and understanding of one's thought processes. It encompasses the ability to reflect on and regulate our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Since you were born, you began to develop and refine your metacognitive skills, shaping the way you perceive the world, process information, and make decisions.

As you journey through life, you tend to encounter numerous challenges that require you to think critically, solve complex problems, and make decisions that impact your life and the lives of those around you. This is where metacognition becomes especially valuable. When you possess a deep understanding of how you think, learn, and make decisions, you are better equipped to tackle the challenges that come your way.

For example, a student who is metacognitively aware might recognize when he's having trouble retaining information and adjust his study strategies to include active recall techniques, like summarizing material, creating flashcards, or teaching the information to a peer.

Generally, metacognition can help you become a more effective learner by providing you with a deeper understanding of the way you learn and the strategies that are most effective for you.

Metacognition Cycle

Assessing the Task: This refers to your ability to evaluate the quality of your thinking and performance. This can involve using self-reflection, self-assessment, or other strategies to determine how well you are doing and what you need to do to improve.

Evaluating: Evaluating stage comes next. In this stage, the individual reflects on their performance and assesses the quality of their work. You might have to consider factors such as accuracy, completeness, and efficiency, and compare your performance against your goals.

Planning: In this stage, you determine the goals and objectives of their task and decide how you are going to approach it. You might need to consider factors such as the difficulty of the task, the resources they have available, and your strengths and weaknesses.

Monitoring and Acting: The next stage I'll be discussing is monitoring. So, you can actively track your thinking and performance as you complete the task. But you're required to pay attention to your thoughts and actions. You'll also need to assess whether you are on track to achieve your goals.

Reflecting and Adjusting: At this point, you can ponder about the reasons for your success or failure. You might be able to identify areas for improvement and consider alternative approaches that could have been more effective.