Thursday, March 17, 2011

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES: COGNITIVISM

HOW IS COGNITIVISM APPLIED IN THE CLASSROOM?
 
Cognitivism is the psychology of learning which emphasizes human cognition or intelligence as a special endowment enabling man to form hypotheses and develop intellectually. The underlying concepts of cognitivism involve how we think and gain knowledge. Cognitivism involves examining learning, memory, problem solving skills, and intelligence. The goal of cognitivism is for students to develop thinking skills for lifelong self-directed learning.

Students construct meaningful knowledge through experiences and interactions. The development of engaging and interactive activities and lessons will promote this kind of learning. Students must be able to interact with one another and be able to share ideas and thoughts. Through various different experiences and interactions, students learn skills that will last them a life time. Students benefit greatly from the use of manipulatives and real-life learning opportunities. It is best in these learning opportunities are relevant to prior experiences of the students. It is the teachers responsiblity to stimulate cognitive development. This can be done through mediation of students learning and monitoring of the thought process.

In the Classroom it is important to understand that problem solving changes throughout childhood and for that reason it is important that children are learing at developmentally appropriate levels. It is also important to take into consideration cultural differences and the affect it has on academic achievements, language development, and other skills important in cognitive development.

In a classroom environment, there are many variables that influence and contribute to learning. When creating and implementing a learning environment, it is imperative that the teachers not only create a setting that promotes learning, but also take the time to understand each child. Classrooms are widely diverse and complex. Students learn differently and are at various developmental levels. Teachers who properly manage their classrooms and establish expectations will be able to incorporate diverse teaching philosophies and create an excellent learning environment for each student. It is important that teachers create a learning environment that encourages students to do their best and makes learning interesting. This creates a motivational climate within the classroom. There are two factors that are critical to motivate students, value and effort. Students must understand that the work they are performing is worthwhile. Value measures the importance of a student's work to himself and others. Effort is the amount of time and energy students put into their work. Understanding the value of academic tasks and the effort needed to complete those tasks can motivate students to perform better in the classroom environment.

http://teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/31012664/Cognitivism

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