Questions: Thinking About Thinking

Question 1

What does 'thinking about thinking' mean?

• A. Thinking really hard about a math problem
• B. Noticing and reflecting on how your own mind works when you think
• C. Letting someone else do the thinking for you
• D. Memorizing facts as fast as possible

Answer: (B)

Thinking about thinking (metacognition) means paying attention to your own thought process -- noticing when you are confused, when you changed your mind, or how you figured something out.

Question 2

Your first thought about something is always your best and most accurate thought.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: False

First thoughts can be rushed, based on habit, or just guesses. When you slow down and think about your thinking, you often improve your understanding and come up with better ideas.

Question 3

Which of these is a good example of thinking about thinking?

• A. Quickly writing down the first answer that comes to mind
• B. Copying what your neighbor wrote
• C. Noticing that you feel confused about a topic and asking yourself what exactly is confusing
• D. Daydreaming during class

Answer: (C)

Noticing your own confusion and trying to pinpoint what is confusing is a perfect example of metacognition. You are observing your own thinking process and using that observation to guide your learning.

Question 4

Even young children can learn to think about their own thinking.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: True

Metacognition is not just for adults. Kids reflect on their thinking whenever they say things like 'I changed my mind,' 'I was wrong about that,' or 'I do not understand this part.' These are all examples of noticing how your own mind works.

Question 5

Describe a time when you changed your mind about something. What made you change your thinking?

Model answer: A good answer describes a specific situation, explains what the person originally thought, what new information or experience caused them to reconsider, and what they ended up thinking instead. For example: 'I used to think spiders were all dangerous, but after learning that most are harmless and helpful, I changed my mind.'

A strong answer shows awareness of one's own thought process and identifies what caused the shift in thinking, demonstrating metacognition in action.