Metacognition Design Framework: a blended learning design placing the student learning journey centrally, aligned with learning outcomes

Design · All designs
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 design), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

The Metacognition Design Framework is a learning design framework that scaffolds metacognitive skill development in blended higher-education settings. "The student's learning journey, comprising activities and tasks, is centrally placed within the Metacognition Design Framework (Fig. 2), constructively aligned with the learning outcomes." Core student activities are an authentic, complex project or assignment and a critical reflection on learning, with learning resources and supports arranged around this pathway; delivery mode (online/face-to-face, synchronous/asynchronous) is indicated by spatial arrangement. It builds on and adapts Oliver and Herrington's task, resources and supports classification and targets knowledge, regulation and social components of metacognition.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Requires integration of metacognitive approaches with subject-specific teaching in authentic contexts
• Requires VLE tools and blended delivery with linkage between online and face-to-face components

Constraints

• Developed and trialed within one university's context and its VLE transition

Target Learners

• university undergraduate and postgraduate students

Learning Goals

• metacognitive knowledge and regulation skills
• critical thinking and self-regulated learning

Claims

• Metacognition Framework Three Case Studies [+M]
• Students in virtual, technology-enhanced environments generally do not deploy effective metacognitive strategies unless guided by appropriate scaffolding [+W]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• O'Neill, E. J., Fulton, C., Matthews, J., & Hensey, C. (2026). Metacognition design framework to aid metacognitive skill development in university students supported by the virtual learning environment. Education Tech Research Dev. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-025-10574-y

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	metacognition-design-framework-oneill
title	Metacognition Design Framework: a blended learning design placing the student learning journey centrally, aligned with learning outcomes
description	The Metacognition Design Framework is a learning design framework that scaffolds metacognitive skill development in blended higher-education settings.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-29
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — oneill-2026

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