Cognitivism in Practice

Lever-Duffy and McDonald (2008, p.16) state that “congnitivists focus on learning as a mental operation that takes place when information enters through the senses, undergoes mental manipulation, is stored, and is finally used.” Using Advance Organizers and engaging in summarizing/note taking techniques are two instructional strategies that reinforce this theory. Advance organizers give the students a preview of what they will be learning about. The organizer will then help students determine what information is important and allows them to synthesize it in order to obtain a deeper meaning. For example, in science, we are discussing the ways in which a volcano changes the earth’s surface. Most of the time, students think that volcanic eruptions only have a negative effect on the earth. Dr. Orey (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009) describes concept mapping as “a graphical network model of the cognition theory.” It creates a visual representation in which students can organize their ideas and make connections. I could create a concept map for the students that would include an essential question. The students can then use Kidspiration in order to illustrate or define ways in which a volcano changes the earth’s surface. They could even classify these ways as a positive or negative effect and give support for their reasoning. “For many students, multimedia is very effective because it helps students both activate prior knowledge and develop a mental model to help them understand new information” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, p. 82). Volcanoes are already a motivating topic for my students, but using technology as well will enhance their learning even further. It is creating a hands on experience that will encourage students to organize their thoughts in order to support a main idea with valid information.

Summarizing can be accomplished by using concept mapping. After the students are finished with the concept map, they can conclude to what they have learned. They can use the information that they have learned in order to identify the main points of the discussion or activity. However, the strategy of summarizing can also be achieved using other tools such as summary frames on Kidspiration. As a fourth grade teacher, we focus much on vocabulary in all subject areas. Therefore, the Definition Frame really peaked my interest. Science and Social Studies terms are difficult for students to understand. If I used a definition frame, students can cognitively think of connections between the given word, their prior knowledge, and new information learned. After showing a video on the term erosion, I can have the students summarize the term erosion, using a definition frame that I have designed. I could create sections such as synonyms of erosion, where it can be found, what it looks like, and types or erosion. I could even allow students to create their own section to further demonstrate their understanding of the concept.

Notetaking is another skill that tends to be difficult for individuals to learn. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) suggested that students take frequent notes and that teachers expose them to a variety of formats. A specific format that I would benefit from is the Character Trait note taking template. This is perfect for my students because character analysis is a focus skill that is constantly being discussed in reading class. My students would really benefit from this organizer because it will allow them to arrange their thoughts in a way that is meaningful to them. It will force them to refer back to the text in order to provide support for their answers. Students then might want to provide graphics to their template in order to create associations or elaborations so that it can be embedded into their long term memory. These notes can then be exported as an outline for children’s future reference.

The above skills require students to gather information that they know and what they learn and organize it in a manner that is significant to them. This is especially important because the notes serve as a personalized tool to help the student study and remember concepts (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, 2007). These skills also assist the students in focusing their learning so that they can identify the most important points of a lesson. As a teacher, it is imperative that we begin implementing these strategies so that our students can become advocates of their own learning.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Program five. Cognitive Learning Theory [Motion picture]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Videos to Peruse

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/21684-erosion-video.htm
http://www.guidesandtutorials.com/advance-organizers-sample.html - gives tips on effective powerpoint presentations
http://www.guidesandtutorials.com/advance-organizers-presentation.html - gives a very brief powerpoint presentation on advance organizers.