Cognitive Science ResearchBased Attributes of Effective Learning Environments
Cognitive Science Research-Based Attributes of Effective Learning Environments Lecturer: Daniel Paa Korsah danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning Outcomes: • • • 1. What is Cognition? 2. Cognitive Theory 3. Learning • 6. What are Learning Styles • 7. Transfer of Learning • 8. Learning and Connections to 4. Learning Theory 5. Learning Styles danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com the Community
COGNITION • What do you understand by Cognition? danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Cognition? Definition: • Cognition is an intellectual process by which knowledge is gained from perception or ideas. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Cognition? • Another Definition: • The process of acquiring knowledge by the use of reasoning, intuition, or perception. Cognition is related to thought processes. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Cognition includes • Attention • Perception • Memory • Reasoning • Judgement • Imagining • Thinking and, • Speech danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Cognitive Psychology • Cognitive psychology is the field of psychology that investigates how people think and the processes involved in cognition. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Cognitive Theory? • Cognitive theory is a learning theory of psychology that attempts to explain human behaviour by understanding the thought processes. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Cognitive Theory • It explains how internal and external factors that influence an individual’s mental processes to supplement learning. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Cognitive Theory • Delays and difficulties in learning are seen when cognitive processes are not working regularly. Processes such as attention, observation, retrieval from long-term memory, and categorization influence students’ learning. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT • Learning environment refers to the diverse physical locations, contexts, and cultures in which students learn danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning Environment • Another Definition: • Learning environment refers to the diverse physical locations, contexts, and cultures in which students learn. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning Environment • Since students may learn in a wide variety of settings, such as outside-of-school locations and outdoor environments. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning Environment • The term is often used as a more accurate or preferred alternative to classroom, which has more limited and traditional connotations - a room with rows of desks and a chalkboard, for example. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Discussion Time: Learning What makes a Good Environment? List 3 things that makes a good learning environment danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Let’s share our findings Three things that makes a good learning environment danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
How to Create a Positive Learning Environment • Establish a supportive learning culture – every member should feel part of the learning environment. • Address Learners’ Needs - assist in meeting unique learning needs • Praise and Appreciate Learners when necessary • Provide Feedback – Positive feedback reinforces behavior • Ensure Safety in the school or class – the environment should be safe for both children and adult learners danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Can there be a Safe Online Learning Environment? danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What Constitute a Safe Online Learning Environment? Write one point on a Sticky Note to be shared with the class danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
How to create a Conducive Online Learning Environment • • • Ensure there is no Cyber bullying Encourage Parental Involvement Providing Students With Resources Be Available To Talk Keep your student account logins safe Guard against phishing attacks danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
WHAT IS LEARNING? • Several definitions… danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour with behaviour including both observable activity and internal processes such as thinking, attitudes and emotions (Burns 1995). danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • Learning is the relatively permanent change in a person’s knowledge or behavior due to experience. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • A process that leads to change, which occurs as a result of experience and increases the potential of improved performance and future learning. ” danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • Learning is often defined as a change in behaviour (Birkenholz, 1999), which is demonstrated by people implementing knowledge, skills, or practices derived from education. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • Educational researchers agree that learning is much deeper than memorization and information recall. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • Deep and long-lasting learning involves understanding, relating ideas and making connections between prior and new knowledge, independent and critical thinking and ability to transfer knowledge to new and different contexts. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • Learning is not something done to students, but rather something students themselves do. It is the direct result of how students interpret and respond to their experiences. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • It is now clear from the definition given by Burns (1995) that includes motivation in this definition of learning. • Burns considers that learning might not manifest itself in observable behaviour until sometime after the educational program has taken place. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
What is Learning? • Learning brings together cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing, or making changes in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
LEARNING THEORIES • Learning theories are conceptual frameworks that describe how information is absorbed, processed, and retained during learning. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning Theories • Although there are multiple theories of learning, there are three principal foundations that influence most instructional design models today. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning Theories • These learning strategies include: behaviorist learning theory, cognitivist learning theory, and constructivist learning theory. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Three main Learning Theories • Behaviorism focuses only on the objectively observable aspects of learning. • Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning. • And constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning Styles • The term ‘‘learning styles’’ refers to the concept that individuals differ in regard to what mode of instruction or study is most effective for them. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
TYPES OF LEARNING STYLES • The VARK model of learning styles suggests that there are four main types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. • • V- Visual A- Auditory R- Reading/Writing K- Kinesthetic danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
TYPES OF LEARNING STYLES • Students learn best when teaching methods and school activities match their learning styles, strengths, and preferences. • Because every student is different, it’s a good idea for teachers to develop classroom strategies that incorporate different learning styles for different types of learners. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Visual Learners • Visual learners prefer to take in information using charts, maps, graphs, diagrams, and more. Using images to explain concepts and ideas is the best way to reach a visual learner. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Visual Learners • One-way teachers can differentiate their instruction for visual learners is by using graphic organizers to teach a lesson. A flow chart might be used to explain a scientific process, for example. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Auditory Learners • This learning style describes students who learn best when information is heard or spoken. They benefit from lectures, group discussion, and other strategies that involve talking things through. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Auditory Learners • To help auditory learners learn, teachers can post audio recordings of lessons on the class website, or incorporate group activities that require students to explain concepts to their classmates. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Reading/Writing Learners • Students who have a reading/writing preference prefer information to be presented using words. They love to read and perform well on written assignments such as stories or book reports danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Reading/Writing Learners • A great way to help these students learn is by having them describe diagrams or charts using written statements. Then, they can study their notes later to better retain the information. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic Learners • Kinesthetic learners learn best when they can use tactile experiences and carry out a physical activity to practice applying new information. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic Learners • People who prefer this mode are connected to reality, ‘either through concrete personal experiences, examples, practice or simulation. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic Learners • Kinesthetic learning happens when we have a hands-on experience. An example of a kinesthetic learning experience is when a child learns to use a swing or to ride a bike. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic Learners • They can read instructions or listen to instructions, but deep learning occurs via the process of doing. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Some Characteristics of Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners • Kinesthetic learners need to move. • They wiggle, tap, swing their legs, bounce, and often just can’t seem to sit still. They learn through their bodies and their sense of touch. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Some Characteristics of Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners • Kinesthetic learners have excellent “physical” memory. • They learn quickly and permanently what they do as they are learning. • Kinesthetic learners are often gifted in physical activities like running, swimming, dancing, and other sports. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners • Kinesthetic learners are typically very coordinated and have an excellent sense of their body in space and of body timing. • They have great hand-eye coordination and quick reactions. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners • Tactile learners learn primarily through the sense of touch. • Tactile learners learn best through hands-on activities. • Incorporating related motions into teaching is one way to strengthen tactile learners. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners • Tactile learners express their learning best with projects. • They learn better when creating mini-books, games, skits, models, building blocks, art materials, and math manipulatives. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners • Kinesthetic and tactile learners have trouble sitting still. • At school: Let them move! If you tell them they can stand up, swing their legs, or even pace the floor as long as they are not disrupting the other students, their performance will improve. • At home: Practice movement at home. Some children learn new material better if they are able to pace the floor while reading. They may need to swing their legs while reading with you. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners • Kinesthetic and tactile learners need manipulatives. • At school: They will focus more easily with objects to manipulate instead of always paper and pencil. Get creative with learning tools. For example, use sight word cards to build sentences. When they are solving math problems, encourage them to draw the problem or build the problem using manipulatives. • At home: Use building blocks to help them visualize math problems. Combine sight words with items around the house to construct sentences. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
TRANSFER OF LEARNING • Transfer of Learning—the application of skills, knowledge, and/or attitudes that were learned in one situation to another learning situation (Perkins, 1992). This increases the speed of learning. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Transfer of Learning • Transfer of learning means that something learned in one situation can be applied in another danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Actions teachers can take to increase chances of transfer of learning • Maximizing the Initial Learning Experience for Transfer • students need to gain a good understanding of the concepts that we wish them to be able to apply to new problems danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Actions teachers can take to increase chances of transfer of learning • Effective initial learning experience to maximize transfer potential is building upon the knowledge students already bring to a topic, which can enhance the likelihood of developing a genuine understanding of concepts. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Actions teachers can take to increase chances of transfer of learning • Another important use of time to promote greater understanding of key concepts is to have students explain in their own words — to others or to themselves (called “self-explanation”) — what they are learning. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Actions teachers can take to increase chances of transfer of learning • Simulations are especially recommended for promoting near transfer to similar future situations. They put students in the kinds of roles that they may very well find themselves in at a future date. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Actions teachers can take to increase chances of transfer of learning • Students can role-play job interviews instead of just talking about appropriate interview responses and behavior, or play different roles in complex racial or union-management negotiations. Student use of online computer simulations have also been found to have a positive effect on learning transfer. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Actions teachers can take to increase chances of transfer of learning • Analogies and Metaphors • One strategy for knowledge transfer is using an analogy or metaphor — we can use what was known previously and apply it to a new situation to make it better understood — such as comparing how a heart works to a pump danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Actions teachers can take to increase chances of transfer of learning • When discussing the importance of providing evidence to support one’s position, we can point to a chair and ask, “What would happen if its legs were removed? ” • After students respond that it would fall down, a teacher can say that the legs are like evidence and the seat is like a thesis statement — without it, it can’t stand up. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY Technology Tools to Engage Students In The Classroom • Google Forms • One of the best ways to engage all students in your classroom is to give students an easy (and even anonymous) way to ask questions, receive feedback, or otherwise reach out to the teacher. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Google Forms • While there are many ways to do this, one of the most universally accessible (and free) methods is Google Forms. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Socrative • Like a few others on this list, you’ve likely heard of Socrative, a tool to “assess student understanding with prepared activities or on-the-fly questions, then adjust your teaching based on the results. ” danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Kahoot! • Kahoot! is a handy tool that students can use to create in-class questionnaires and quizzes. This is handy for obtaining data for graphing assignments, data for research essays, and feedback from their classmates. Kahoot! is compatible with multiple devices and has a game-like feel that will help keep students interested. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Class Dojo • This is a fun tool to gamify the classroom. Students make their own avatars, gain and lose points based on classroom behavior, discussion approaches, and other soft skills agreed upon by the teacher and the class. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Clickers • This is a tool for teachers, to help assess students’ understanding of concepts and their engagement with the material. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Edvoice • Edvoice is a feature-rich communication tool with everything from lesson planning and rubrics, to messaging, announcements, notifications, and even tools to help prevent (or respond to) bullying in the classroom. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
LEARNING AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY • Here are some pointers drawn from the experiences of real schools, students and teachers to help plant the seeds of Place in new school communities. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning and Connections to Community • • Develop an inclusive and caring school ethos and culture, encouraging the school community—parents, teachers and students—to feel listened to, cared for, involved, respected and valued. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning and Connections to Community • • Utilize leadership styles that involve shared planning, good communication and the active involvement of the school leader in teaching and school activities to support a ‘culture of care’. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning and Connections to Community • • Nurture students’ sense of Place by allowing plenty of opportunity for unstructured play or quiet time in a familiar natural ‘Place’. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning and Connections to Community • • Encourage the development of links between students and local representatives, charities and businesses to help identify manageable projects where students can have a real impact. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning and Connections to Community • Encourage students to contribute to the development of community service provisions—for example, by encouraging markets for local food— to help disadvantaged groups. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
Learning and Connections to Community • • Build links with schools and communities in contrasting localities at home or abroad to raise awareness of diversity and global issues. danielpaakorsah@hotmail. com
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