The term “metacognition” refers to a multidimensional concept that allows one to “think about one’s own cognitive processes”. It is the general ability to imagine and question one’s own mental functioning. It also includes the ability to plan, control and verify the application of strategies implemented to solve a task (Flavell, 1987).
The concept of metacognition is something difficult to explain to a child, especially if that child is having difficulty. However, metacognitive thinking can greatly help these children develop new strategies to compensate for their difficulties.
This has led to several programs designed to be used by psychologists to explain to children how to develop their metacognitive abilities. This is the case, for example, of the Reflecto model, developed by Pierre-Paul Gagné
With this model, children aged 8 to 15 learn to manage metacognitive strategies using the qualities and characteristics of seven significant characters: a detective, an explorer, a librarian, a controller, an architect, a carpenter and an arbitrator.
- The Detective: Selective Attention ; Identification of salient details ; Integration of sensory information.
- “The detective helps me to observe, identify important clues and associate information”
- The librarian: Memory mechanisms ; Exploring working memory ; Learning memory strategies
- “The librarian helps me to classify the information so that I can find it more easily later”
- The Explorer: Cognitive Flexibility and Creativity
- “The explorer helps me to let my imagination run free in order to propose creative ideas.
- The architect: Retrospective and prospective thinking ; Planning
- “The architect helps me to organize myself in order to achieve my objectives”
- The carpenter: Sequential treatment Method
- “The carpenter helps me to use the right tools, and to respect the plan to build things”
- The controller: Self-instruction; Cognitive inhibition; Behavioural inhibition
- “The controller helps me to control my impulsivity and check if what I do fits the purpose and context”
The reflecto model, because of its extremely concrete nature, allows children to visualize and better understand their own cognitive functioning. These small metaphors can be very useful to us as psychologists, whether for individual follow-up or for the animation of “Metacognition Groups”.
- The words I have learned :
- A carpenter : un menuisier
- Métaphore : metaphor
- Metacognitive thinking : Réflexion métacognitive
- Mental functioning : fonctionnement cognitif
Pennequin, V., Sorel, O., Nanty, I. & Fontaine, R. (2011). Métacognition et déficience intellectuelle chez l’enfant et l’adolescent : effet d’un entraînement sur la résolution de problèmes. Enfance, 2(2), 225-244. doi:10.4074/S0013754511002047.