Cognitivism

Cognitivism is a learning theory that emphasizes the importance of mental processes in learning and is based on the premise that learners actively construct their own knowledge by processing information and making connections between new information and what they already know. As you will see cognitivism and constructivism have a number of foundational premises regarding the nature of the learning process in common and thus share similar approaches to learning facilitation when applied in practice.

Cognitivists focus on a number of different cognitive processes that contribute to the learning process, including:

• Attention: The ability to focus on relevant information and ignore distractions.
• Memory: The ability to store and retrieve information.
• Thinking: The ability to process information and make decisions.
• Problem solving: The ability to identify and overcome obstacles.
• Creativity: The ability to generate new ideas and solutions.
• Active engagement: Learning is most effective when learners are actively engaged in the learning process.
• Stimulus: Learners need to be provided with opportunities to practice new skills and knowledge.

Cognitivist approaches used to facilitate cognitive learning, include:

• Providing learners with a framework for understanding new information in advance, for example a module timetable of topics to be covered which also acts as a knowledge map which structures new knowledge.
• Providing opportunities for learners to interact with the material.
• Encouraging learners to reflect on their learning.
• Providing feedback on learners' progress.

Key implications of cognitive learning theory:

• Learning is an active process of constructing knowledge.
• Learners bring their own prior knowledge and experiences to the learning process.
• Mental processes such as attention, memory, thinking, problem solving, and creativity are important for learning.
• Learning is most effective when learners are actively engaged in the learning process.
• Learners need to be provided with opportunities to practice new skills and knowledge.
• Cognitive learning theory is a valuable tool for adult educators. By understanding how learners learn, adult educators can create learning experiences that are effective and engaging.