Cognitivism Cognitivism Cognitivists recognised the role of the

Cognitivism

Cognitivism � Cognitivists recognised the role of the individual learner in processing or cognising information � We are not passive receptors

Cognitivism � Students create a pattern of what the new knowledge means to them � In a group, all students will have different understandings of what the new information means to them

Dewey � Learning is about learning to think, not just learning to do � The teacher is still key because he/she plans for reflection to take place � Education should be linked to social growth

Bruner � Students must be taught how to analyse problems and think for themselves, in order to become independent � Teach generalities rather than factual information

Ausubel � Need to create bridges from existing knowledge to new knowledge � We are not passive receptors of stimuli

Vygotsky � Social constructivist � Focus on interaction between learner and others � Gives priority to role of language and dialogue � Acknowledges importance of prior knowledge

Scaffolding - Vygotsky � Zone of proximal development (the level of knowledge just above the existing level, the space into which the learner will progress next)

Cognitivism in the classroom � Look at the handout and decide how you could apply this theory to your own teaching