Teachers' Support for Learners' Metacognitive Awareness

: Heli Kallio, Manne Kallio, Kalle Virta, Tuike Iiskala, Risto Hotulainen

Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

: 2020

: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research

: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

: SCAND J EDUC RES

: 17

: 0031-3831

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2020.1755358

Teachers' support concerning learners' metacognitive awareness (MA) is crucial in learning. Previous research has focused mainly on students' MA. Therefore, this study describes how subject teachers and special teachers (N = 1,045) perceive how they support learners' MA in general education and in vocational education and training. The main findings were that special teachers support learners' MA systematically more than other teachers, and their perceived support for learners' MA varies between components of MA and between teacher groups. The findings confirm the need to develop MA support capabilities during pre-service and in-service teacher education, in order to help learners to acquire MA, which is a foundation for life-long-learning processes. The findings indicate how teachers currently address this challenge.