Schema Theory Presented by JAHANUR HOSSAIN Class 1

Schema Theory Presented by: JAHANUR HOSSAIN Class- 1 st Sem, B. Ed. (Fresher) Roll- 17 University B. T. & Evening College

What is schema? Ø It is a set of knowledge that is idealized from the experience or Schema is what person knows about the world through his/her interpretations of the experience he/she had. Ø It explains how people develop ideas from simple ideas into complex ones & are formed and revised by relating experiences to each other. Schema Theory: Theory of how knowledge is represented and how the representation of knowledge guides the application of knowledge

Ø The term schema was first used by Jean Piaget in 1926. (but there have been many with similar ideas before him). Ø Concept of schema theory, as cognitive learning theories, was firstly introduced in 1932 through the work of British psychologist Sir Frederic Bartlett. Ø It was further developed in 1970 s by American educational psychologist Richard Anderson.

The construction of schemas according to Jean Piaget Ø We try to understand a new or different object or concept by using one of our pre-existing schemas Ø During assimilation, we try to fit new objects into existing schemas Ø During accommodation, we change our schemas to fit the characteristics of a new object (learning)

Example: ØA child sees a cat first time & incorporates it into his schema of a dog because it has four legs. It is an example of assimilation. ØA child calls a cat a dog because it has four legs but is corrected & he learned about a new thing. This is an example of accommodation.

Changing Schemas Accretion: Incorporate new information to existing schemata without making changes to the schemata Tuning: Modify schemata to be more consistent with experience Restructuring: Create a new schemata because of inconsistency between old schemata and new information Surprising elements and entirely new experiences can potentially result in schema disruption (challenge to familiar knowledge structure).

Schema Theory in Learning & Education üRICHARD ANDERSON, PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN INTRODUCING SCHEMA THEORY TO THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY. üStudents construct and apply appropriate schema to solve practical problems in various domains -Become “expert” problem solvers in school courses üInstructional Strategies -Reduce extra cognitive load -Irrelevant tasks -Increase relevant cognitive load

Current uses in learning A B C • Motor Learning • Reading Comprehension • Mathematical Problem Solving

Criticism ØThe idea of schemata as more complex constructs of memory has also been questioned. ØCohen (1993) points out that “the whole idea of a schema is too vague to be useful” and argues that schema theory provides no explanation of how schemas work. ØSchemas are immeasurable ØSchema processing is not fully understood

Conclusion ØNevertheless, there is enough research to suggest schemas do affect memory processes knowledge, both in a positive and negative sense. ØSchema theory was the starting point or a component for many other cognitive theories and theorists like Jean Mandler or Marvin Minsky (frame theory) and was also included many other theorists like Sweller's (cognitive load theory) or Ausubell's (assimilation theory). ØThey do simplify reality, and help us to make sense of current experiences. Schemas are useful concepts in helping us understand how we organize our knowledge.

References • BARTLETT, FREDERIC C. 1932. Remembering. Cambridge, Eng. : Cambridge University Press. • Processes 25 References Anderson, R. C. , & Pichert, J. W. Recall of previously unrecallable information following a shift of perspective (Tech. Rep, 41). Urbana, Ill. : enter for the Study of Reading, University of Illinois, April 1977. • BREWER, WILLIAM F. 2000. "Bartlett's Concept of the Schema and Its Impact on Theories of Knowledge Representation in Contemporary Cognitive Psychology. " In Bartlett, Culture and Cognition, ed. Akiko Saito. Hove, Eng. : Psychology Press. • BREWER, WILLIAM F. , and NAKAMURA, GLENN V. 1984. "The Nature and Functions of Schemas. " In Handbook of Social Cognition, Vol. 1, ed. Robert S. Wyer, Jr. and Thomas K. Srull. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. • Picture Courtesy: Wiki. In, Picture eisore. com • Schema theory of learning. Lingual inks Library, 1999. Retrieved March 15, 2011. • Schema theory of learning. The Encyclopedia of Educational Technology. Retrieved March 15, 2011. • Stockwell, Peter. Cognitive Poetics: An Introduction, London: Routledge, 2002. • Qualitative Research Methods. Schema Theory (drawn from D’Andrade 1995). Retrieved March 15, 2011. • Wiki: Schema Theory. Retrieved March 15, 2011.