Metacognitive supports as cognitive scaffolding

Learning requires metacognition, but environments can take some of that metacognitive burden off of learners’ shoulders.

In a classroom setting, teachers do much of the monitoring, evaluation, planning, and executive control. Of course, they sometimes do too much of it, but in many situations, this can free students to focus on the material at hand.

On Quantum Country, our interleaved review sessions help readers notice when they’re not absorbing the material and give them a sense of ease when their memory is solid. The environment also plans and executes subsequent memory practice accordingly.

Games are particularly good at this: