Cognitivism in Practice

In education cognitive tools are beneficial because they allow students to interact with information to acquire, synthesize, create, and share new knowledge by examining their roles (Orey, 2001).  Technology can be used to assist in the learning process.  Students are able to utilize technology to think, learn, and problem solve by using different applications available to them.  Students are able to use technology to look up information, present information, organize information, integrate prior knowledge, and generate knowledge (Orey, 2001). 

It is important that as we teach we check students’ ability to retrieve, use, and organize information about the subject by using cues, questions, and advance organizers that assist students (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2013).  A cue is a hint that uses students’ prior knowledge to help them understand new information.  It is important that teachers questions students to determine their prior knowledge on what they previously verses what they do not know.  Advance organizers are used to help students focus on important concepts in a lesson.  They are able to use advance organizers to point out important information, identify relationships within the material, and formulate connections with prior knowledge (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2013, p. 91).  These strategies are important to use in the beginning of a lesson because it allows the students to begin to think about the information they are going to learn.  In addition, it will also help students focus on key concepts during lesson. 

In a classroom there are many different approaches that teachers can use to incorporate cognitive tools into their teachings.  One strategy teachers can do is to require students to research information before going on a field trip.  They could use the their research to create a brochure on word processing software and use on their trip.  They can use the brochure as an agenda, map, or for information they will see on their field trip.  Students can also use organizing and brainstorming software to form connections between information in a unit.  The teacher can create essential questions and have students create a graphic organizer.  This will require students to use higher order thinking skills to answers and also incorporates cognitive learning strategies.  In this activity students will be able to incorporate written descriptions along with pictures that can be used to help create connections to the material.  It is important that students create a network of connections to help them retrieve information from their long-term memory (Laureate Education Inc., 2011).  Instructional media is also another approach that teachers can incorporate into their lessons.  An example is by having students watch a video segment on a subject where they are able to stop and replay the segment as needed.  In addition, questions can be incorporated into the lesson by providing cues for students to answers questions to a blog.  Blogs are extremely beneficial in education because students are able to post information, have discussions, ask questions, and clarify misconceptions on a topic. 

In order for students’ to better understand information summarizing and note take can be use to synthesize information.  Students need to not be able to just copy information from a book or online resource but put it in their own words.  If they information is not in their own words students will not be able to form connections between the material.  These skills can be addressed through use of graphic organizers, multimedia, wikis, and blogs.   In addition, as students take notes they should incorporate outlining, webbing, and pictographs in additions to words (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2013, p.151).  This will help students to create connections to information and access it from their long-term memory at a later time.  Students can utilize applications such as evernote, audionote, infinite, and paperdesk to help them with this strategy.

I think there are many useful websites that students can use to incorporate summarizing and note takes skills.  Thinkfree is a great website that students can use to collaborate to prepare documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.   www.thinkfree.com 

Although I have not begun implement many of these strategies into my teaching I anticipate that I will next year.  I think with the use of technology it can help enhance students learning by incorporating skills they use daily.  In addition, many students would rather look information up on the Internet then read it in a book.  They would also rather create a word documents then hand write an assignment.  As a result it might be difficult at first for them to get use to using technology to enhance their education but it will eventually become second nature to them.  In addition, it will provide them with benefits of problem solving, critical thinking, working collaboratively on a project.  One of the most important aspects is that students do not need to be in the same location to work on group assignments.  I know as a student it became frustrating to create group projects and coordinate times that work form everyone however, with the use of technology that no longer is an issues. 

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program five: Cognitive learning theory [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Main_Page

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that works (2^nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.