Using Cognitive Tools To Enhance Learning Experiences

     Cognitive theory is concerned with the development of a person’s thought processes. It is all about how we process information into our short-term and long-term memory. In order for students to retain information, they must be able to make connections. Students have to be able to make sense of information and organize it in a way that allows them to comprehend it. This week’s resources introduced two cognitive theory instructional strategies that enable students to organize and comprehend information.

     The first strategy introduced was “Cues, Questions, and Advance Organizers.” This particular strategy gives students the opportunity to gather and organize important information. This strategy supports the cognitivist theory where students can interact in meaningful ways in order to retain the content we present. There are many ways we can incorporate this strategy using technology so we can peak students’ interest. Word Processing can be used to create graphic organizers to help students outline important information they must comprehend. Spreadsheets can be utilized to produce a rubric which gives students specific guidelines and expectations. There are many different types of software that allows students to create and complete concept maps such as “Kidspiration.” Anytime we can implement technology we are providing a meaningful and an engaging learning environment. The learning strategies, cues, questions, and advance organizers, provide many opportunities for learners to process the information in a way that organizes it and provides the ability to store it into their long-term memory.

     The second instructional strategy introduced to support the cognitive learning theory is “Summarizing and Note-taking.” “The instructional strategy summarizing and note-taking focuses on enhancing students’ ability to synthesize information and distill it into concise new information” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 119). One problem students face when trying to master and comprehend new information is the process of deciphering what is important and putting it into their own words. When students are able to organize their thoughts in their own words they are more likely to retain it into their long-term memory. Computer software such as “Kidspiration” again gives students the chance to create concept maps that allows students to cue in what is important and then summarizes it into a meaningful learning scenario. Students can use wikis and blogs to communicate their meaning to the information in their own words and see how others perceive it. They will be able to make connections and have a better chance to remember it.

     “The development of cognitive learning theories marked a change about how educators thought about learning” (Laureate Education, 2010). For years, teachers have assumed that students can learn anything as long as they listened attentively in class. However, this has been proven time and time again to be false. We are presented with a diverse group of students to educate and unless we accommodate to this diversity we are not going to effectively teach our students. Students need to be presented information using all modalities and be able to organize the information in their own way to process it. The goal for students is not to memorize but actually comprehend the information in order to be able to apply it in different learning environments as well as the real world.

Reference:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010 [Webcast]. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.