What term refers to the awareness and control of one’s own cognitive processes?

The correct answer is metacognition, which encompasses the awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. It is essentially thinking about one's own thinking. This concept includes skills such as planning how to approach a task, monitoring comprehension, and evaluating the effectiveness of learning strategies. By engaging in metacognition, individuals can adjust their approaches to learning and problem-solving based on their self-assessments during the learning process.

Cognitive load, while relevant to how much information the brain can process at one time, does not specifically involve self-awareness or control over one's cognitive processes. Introspection refers to examining one's own thoughts and feelings but does not directly encapsulate the broader concept of managing and directing cognitive processes. Reflection involves looking back on experiences to learn from them, which is part of metacognitive practice but does not fully define the active awareness and regulation aspect that metacognition provides.