Cognitivism in Practice
“Cognitivism focuses on learning as a mental operation that takes place when information enters through the senses, undergoes mental manipulation, is stored and is finally used (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008). The instructional strategies presented this week aid in the mental manipulation process of the cognitivist theory. They help synthesize information. If you have ever heard of Max Thompson and learning focused strategies, you understand these are very powerful and successful techniques for learning.
Cognitive tools have multiple roles. The strategies “Cues, Questions, and Advance Organizers,” “Summarizing and Note Taking,” and “Concept Mapping” play the role of knowledge organization (Orey, 2001). These tools help students focus on what is important and organize it in a way that is easy to make sense of and retrieve. If the mind is like a computer, as cognitivists state, connections between ideas take place. The strategies presented assist in the connecting process.
Another strategy, virtual field trips, plays the part of knowledge integration and knowledge generation. Dr. Orey describes virtual field trips as powerful, immersive experiences that constructivist activities can be tied to (Laureate Education, 2009).
As stated above, Max Thompson has built a business on cognitivist theories and strategies, one that many school districts, including my own have bought into. After extensive and continued research they have listed the most effective strategies as the following (Learning-Focused, 2008).
Strategies That Most Impact Achievement Strategy
1) Extending Thinking Skills
2) Summarizing
3) Vocabulary In Context
4) Advance Organizers
5) Non-Verbal Representations
Coincidence that we studied two of these this week? I think not.
Resources:
http://www.learningfocused.com/research.php
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer).(2009). Spotlight on Technology: Virtual Field Trips.[Motion Picture]. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore: Author.
Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Teaching and learning with technology (3rd ed. pp. 2–35). Boston: Pearson.
Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
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All this about cognitive learning can be overwhelming, but it really does make sense. How different sections of the brain store memory and learning separately. Our resource, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works has so many venues for us to explore how to reach our students based on cognitive learning.
ReplyDeleteI find the theory that the mind is like a computer is interesting. It is a network of connections and information must be stored and retrieved as in a computer. We have learned that knowledge can be stored but sometimes cannot be retrieved easily. (I find this to be true the older I get!) I belive that the cognivist learning tools provide the stimuli and visual cues to help make retrieval easier once the information has been stored.
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