Cognitivist ideas

Cognitivism places the focus on mental processes such as thinking, memory, knowing, and problem-solving.

Learning is about finding meaning, making links, seeing the whole.

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Some Cognitivist Blokes

Bruner Dewey Ausubel

Other key theorists: Vygotsky, Piaget, Gagne

Nb. No picture does not mean less important04/18/23 2

John Dewey (1859 -1952)Dewey saw education as an integral element of the democratic process because an educated population is able to exercise social and personal judgement.

He defined learning as ‘learning to think’ and the process of learning is not just doing something such as a task, but reflecting and learning from this.

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Dewey

education should train one’s powers of ‘reflective thinking’ and ‘the teacher’s influence is paramount’n.b. these are paraphrases- not actual quotes

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knowledge is a process

rather than a product

n.b. these are paraphrases- not actual quotes

Bruner

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a curriculum as it develops should revisit basic ideas repeatedly, building upon them until the student has grasped the full formal apparatus that goes with them – the Spiral Curriculum

n.b. these are paraphrases- not actual quotes

Bruner

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CognitivismCognitivism places the focus on mental

processes such as thinking, memory, knowing, and problem-solving.

These are, of course, NOT observable processes, which is why Cognitivists describe it as opening the “black box” of the human mind.

Cognitivists place focus on how we gain and organise knowledge (cognise)

Learning outcomes

Identify the key characteristics of cognitivism

Apply this to your own teaching and learning

Consider the differences between cognitivism and the other theories we have looked at

teams of equal numbersEach team has one envelope

First person takes one of the cards out of the envelope and without saying the word on the paper describes the famous person.

Once answered the envelope can pass to the next person, who takes another paper and describes to the next person in the line and so on. First team to empty envelope WINS !!!!

In groups discuss and present

Group activity 2jigsaw paragraph – you can only read your

card and must listen to the others to construct a complete paragraph.

What is this about?

Group activity 3Put the right answers in the boxes

Consider the constructivist model

Do you agree that learners should be given the opportunity to construct their own meaning rather than just memorising “correct answers?” Justify your answer

If you think they should then use the model above to say how you will encourage this in your practice i.e. give examples of how you will develop this behaviour AND think about how you already do this

Key points summarised learning is a cognitive process which involves the learner in:acquiring new information,transforming the learning with regard to existing

knowledge and then,checking the knowledge against a new situationa curriculum as it develops should revisit basic ideas

repeatedly, building upon them until the student has grasped the full concept – the Spiral Curriculum

knowledge is a process rather than a product

Key points cont.education should train one’s powers of

‘reflective thinking’ and ‘the teachers influence is paramount’

the key to effective learning is the students relating their new learning to existing cognitive structures

prior experience with related problems is necessary for a learner to deal successfully with new and novel situations

Cognitivists argue that our mind actively processes information and converts it into new forms and categories

1. Let learners discover things for themselves2. In discussions let learners lead them3. Point out the structure of the topic - Stress

relationships4. Point out what learners already know and

what they need to know (advance organisers)

5. If your learners want to find out answers to something personal USE IT- if you can relate it personally your are more likely to explore it and remember it.

a curriculum as it develops should revisit basic ideas repeatedly, building upon them until the student has grasped the full formal apparatus that goes with them – the Spiral Curriculum

n.b. these are paraphrases- not actual quotes

Bruner

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Teachers make assumptions about what students know at the start

Teachers should start by finding out what ideas students currently have to see if they need to construct new ones

Learners may share learning experiences but will each construct their own meaning

This is continuous – we are always constructing new meanings and understanding

A Constructivist approach….

Applied to learning…………..The purpose is to allow individuals to

construct their own meaning, not just memorise “right answers”

The curriculum should therefore be customised to the students’ prior knowledge

Teachers should focus on fostering new understanding, encouraging learners to analyse, interpret, and predict information

This should be an active process and students should take responsibility for it

Ausubel

Use ‘advance organisers’ they

hint, suggest, shape, help

contextualise, make links with what is to follow

n.b. these are paraphrases- not actual quotes04/18/23 20

Organiser

Entry Behaviour

Restructuring

Applying

Review

Compare with original ideas

The Constructivist Theory

Learning involves actively constructing our own meanings

When you have learned something, you have changed your brain physically

Active vs. passive learning

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Some thoughts from Vygotsky…What do you think?

Teach knowledge OR skills? Learners can get up-to-date knowledge from the internet or books

Learners should work at a level above their present capacity

Children engage more in play than academic instruction. Is it the same for young people?

Read the outcomes for the assignment

Produce a mind map outlining the content of your discussion for cognitivism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Xa59prZC5gA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZXUJMNtZh_s

Please sit ‘evenly’ at tables

Discuss with a partner the following:

•What are the main differences between a behaviourist and humanist approach to teaching and learning?

•Which is most suitable for your own subject specialism?

•Why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Xa59prZC5gA

teams of equal numbersEach team has one envelope

First person takes one of the cards out of the envelope and without saying the word on the paper describes the famous person.

Once answered the envelope can pass to the next person, who takes another paper and describes to the next person in the line and so on. First team to empty envelope WINS !!!!

In groups discuss and present

Group activity 2jigsaw paragraph – you can only read your

card and must listen to the others to construct a complete paragraph.

What is this about?

Group activity 3Put the right answers in the boxes

Consider the constructivist model

Do you agree that learners should be given the opportunity to construct their own meaning rather than just memorising “correct answers?” Justify your answer

If you think they should then use the model above to say how you will encourage this in your practice i.e. give examples of how you will develop this behaviour AND think about how you already do this