www.ccsenet.org/ass Asian Social Science Vol. 7, No. 3; March 2011 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 165 The Impact of Using Meta Cognitive Learning Strategies on Al-Hussain Bin Talal University Students' Achievement in and Attitudes towards Health Concepts in "Tenet of Worship" Course Dr. Omar Salim Muhammad Al-Khateeb Assistant Prof. Curriculum Instruction Department, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Jordon E-mail: omar58khteeb@yahoo.com Abstract This quasi experimental study aims at investigating the impact of a Meta Cognitive Learning Model (MCLM) on the achievement of Al-Hussein Bin Talal University students and their attitudes towards health concepts included in the course "Tenet of Worship". The total sample of the study (# 120 students at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University) was selected purposively; then divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group. Two instruments were used to achieve the aims of this study: a) written test on the health concepts in "Tenet of Worship"; and b) attitude scale towards healthy concepts included in the course "Tenet of Worship". In order to verify the level of variable significance between the two groups with regard to the two instruments mentioned above, means of students scores have been calculated according to each variable in each group. Data was analyzed using (ANCOVA). The findings of the study indicated: - a significant difference between the mean scores of the experimental and control groups in the achievement test on the health concepts in " Tenet of Worship", in favors of the experimental group. - a significant difference between the mean scores of the experimental and control groups in the students' attitudes towards the health concepts in " Tenet of Worship" in favors of the experimental group. On basis of these findings, the study recommends the use of the MCLM in teaching healthy concepts in the course "Tenet of Worship" with other university students. The study concludes that it is vital to design the learning material in accordance with this model; and to carry out training courses for instructors of the health concepts in the course" Tenet of Worship" to enable them to apply this strategy. Finally, the study recommends conducting similar studies to measure achievement in other courses utilizing the MCLM; and the possibility to form integrated conceptual basis and develop positive students attitudes towards it. Keywords: Meta cognitive, Learning strategies, Achievement, Attitudes, Health concepts Introduction Educational research in the last two decades has witnessed a turning point in the researcher' vision of the learning process. Focus of concern that used to be on external factors that affect learning, such as teacher's character and clarity, has been transferred to enquiring how knowledge is established and acquired; i.e. what goes on within the students' brain, such as their previous knowledge, ability to recall and process knowledge, the way interpretations / meanings of concepts are formed and the role of previous knowledge in forming such meanings, and the relationships that link these concepts together. Concern tended to be towards helping students build their character physically, mentally, morally and affectively. Towards exploring what abilities and creative potential power students have got and attempt to demonstrate and develop. There existed a satisfaction to develop high level of thinking within the students which recalls consciousness – conscious brain that is able to treat knowledge, face problems and future challenges (Zolar, 1991). This transfer was assisted by the new explorations in the teaching/learning psychology represented in Piaget research whose concern was on the internal cognitive processes such as attention, comprehension, memory, information reception and processing and the mental operations occurring within the student's mind. Flavell and Brown's research on development of memory and memorization also pushed this transfer of interest forward. They concluded that memory development process is, in a great deal of it, a result of building up and development of intelligence ; and the intelligent monitoring over data storage and recall. Thus, students having a higher level of consciousness in regard to the above-mentioned mental processes will possess considerable