THE FUNCTION OF METACOGNITION IN INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the instructional metacognition of pre-service elementary teachers with high and low level of proficiency on teaching skills. The comparative case study was carried out on six pre-service elementary school teachers, three of whom had high level of proficiency (HLP) and the other three with low level of proficiency (LLP) on teaching skills. The research data were collected through unstructured observation and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed through content analysis. As a result of the study, the instructional metacognition (IM) strategies and behaviors adopted by the HLPs and the LLPs during the teaching process were modelled, comparatively evaluated, and similarities or dissimilarities were revealed. The present study is significant in terms of uncovering the function of instructional cognitive awareness in the process of professional development in teacher training, discovering what and how the IM has affected the quality of high and low instructional performances and determining the problems encountered in this process.

Keywords: teacher training, professional development, metacognition, instructional metacognition, effective teaching