Metacognition—the awareness and control of one's thinking—and self-regulation—the ability to plan, monitor, and adjust one's learning behaviors—are essential for academic success and professional growth in the health sciences. Together, these processes enable learners to assess what they know, identify gaps, select appropriate strategies, and evaluate their effectiveness in both academic and clinical settings. In health professions education, students face complex tasks requiring reflection, adaptability, and persistence. Teaching students to think metacognitively and regulate their learning helps them become self-directed learners capable of clinical reasoning, ethical decision-making, and lifelong improvement. These skills are not innate; they can be developed through targeted instruction and structured practice.

TLC‧To‧Go is produced by the Teaching and Learning Center at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, with the assistance of NotebookLM. Find more information about the TLC at http://tlc.uthsc.edu.