This commentary reviews the distinctions researchers make in defining metacognition, self-regulation, and self-regulated learning along with the methods used to explore these constructs. Bandura's notion of reciprocal determinism (1977) is revisited in the context of situated learning, whereby interactions between the person, behavior, and environment take on new meaning when examining learning and affect in specific contexts where knowledge is constructed through interacting with all that the environment affords, be that material or human. The interaction between the mind and environment continues to be an interesting question with regard to these three constructs, and this interaction can be explored by using computers as cognitive tools. Technology-rich environments are described that provide opportunities for assessing and validating metacognition, self-regulation, and self-regulated learning with future directions for assessing co-regulation of teams of learners.Keywords Metacogniton . Self-regulation . Self-regulated learning . Computer based learning environments Many reputable scholars in our field have discussed how theories evolve either through evolutionary or revolutionary methods where the fittest theories, concepts, and constructs predominate the literature and guide research for several years and decades (Kuhn 1996;Mayer 1997). Theory change can be seamless such as a natural progression where old ideas die when they have outlived their usefulness and new ones thrive. On the other hand, theory change can become a battle of words that polarizes our field into different camps. Theory change based on empirical findings and constructive dialogue is healthy. The research presented in this special issue on metacognition, self-regulation (SR), and self-regulated learning (SRL) is unique because it serves to move the field forward without alienating those who have been working within a paradigm with one set of assumptions for several years. The contributors to this journal outline the distinctions between these three constructs and highlight where the edges are blurred. Most importantly, they seek ways to improve our Educ Psychol Rev (2008) 20:469-475