Metacognition in Interactive Learning Environments: The Reflection Assistant Model

Abstract

Computers have a lot of potential as metacognitive tools, by recording and replaying some trace of the learners’ activities to make them reflect on their actions. This paper describes research that created generic metacognition model called the Reflection Assistant (RA) that explores new instructional designs for metacognition instruction in problem solving environments. Three metacognitive skills are explicitly trained: knowledge monitoring, strategies planning, and evaluation of learning experience.

As part of this research we built the MIRA system, a problem solving environment for algebra word problems, which incorporated the RA model. We expected that through interactions with the reflective activities, students would be encouraged to becoming more conscious about their learning processes and skills. To investigate the effectiveness of the RA model for metacognition training, we conducted an empirical study with MIRA. The results suggest the reflective activities helped students improve their performance, time management skills, and knowledge monitoring ability.