 What is a Meta-literate Learner? Meta-literacy supports an individual's desire to learn throughout their lifespan. It recognizes that in order to be a well-informed, contributing citizen, learning needs to be continual. A Meta-literate Learner takes ownership of their own learning goals, is open to new challenges, adapts to new situations and new technologies, reflects on personal growth, and considers multiple perspectives and ideas. Let's explore the four learning domains that are central to Meta-literacy, the metacognitive, the cognitive, the behavioral, and the affective. By delving into each of these four domains, we will consider aspects of learning that address the whole person, which is essential when striving to become an active Meta-literate Learner. As we explore the four domains of learning, think about how you may relate to each of these four areas. The metacognitive domain reinforces an individual's ability to reflect and regulate their own learning pathway. The meta in Meta-literacy intentionally aligns with the meta in metacognition, which is essentially thinking about one's own thinking. Through self-reflection, you can identify your own strengths and areas for improvement, which is valuable in any learning situation. Self-regulation is empowering because it puts you in charge of developing your own strategies for success, while motivating self-directed action. Metacognition is one of the central responsibilities of being a Meta-literate Learner because it requires continual self-reflection to be followed by appropriate action. The cognitive domain refers to your level of understanding and the knowledge gained after successfully completing learning activities. It involves the comprehension of information, the organization of ideas, the application of knowledge, and the ability to evaluate and think critically. While metacognition is thinking about one's own thinking, cognition is the thinking itself. The behavioral domain supports what individuals are able to do as part of the learning process. In other words, how you put skills and competencies into practice. The behavioral domain plays out in formal learning situations and in everyday life. The higher-level thinking goals emphasized in Meta-literacy are built on a strong foundation of competencies. The effective domain describes the emotions and attitudes that individuals possess. From a Meta-literate perspective, learning is impacted by effective considerations such as how you feel about an issue or by an attitude you may have about a specific topic or concern. Your emotions and attitudes may interact with the other domains. An emotional response may motivate you to ask questions and to learn more about a particular concern or issue. On the other hand, emotional or attitudinal responses may also prevent you from looking at issues objectively because of deeply held viewpoints that may interfere with logic and reason. The four domains of learning are interrelated and provide checks and balances to thinking processes. You possess the ability for all of these learning domains. Your awareness about this approach is itself metacognitive, providing you with an opportunity to analyze how you think, what you do, what you can control, and how you respond.