Education Atlas

How Knowledge Is Built
Pedagogical Approaches

Cognitivism

Also Known As Cognitive Learning Theory

Citation Formats

General Reference

APA Style

BibTeX

Gear Inside a Head

The pedagogical approach that focuses on what happens inside the mind, drawing on theory about processing facts and cognitive load, so a teacher chunks explanations into small parts and uses worked examples as an effective strategy.

Facts
Central Question
What internal mental processes, plans and strategies does a learner use to make sense of new information? 1
Most Effective For
Well-structured instruction that helps learners build plans and strategies rather than habits, and that accounts for individual differences in cognitive style and prior knowledge. 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Classifies cognitive processes; widely used across pedagogical approaches but rooted in cognitivist thinking about levels of understanding.

Developed By

Includes

Sources
1. infed, the encyclopedia of pedagogy and informal education
The cognitive orientation to learning page
Quote, The cognitive orientation to learning page
Where behaviourists looked to the environment, those drawing on Gestalt turned to the individual's mental processes. In other words, they were concerned with cognition – the act or process of knowing.
View the Source
1. infed, the encyclopedia of pedagogy and informal education
The cognitive orientation to learning page, Hartley's principles
Quote, The cognitive orientation to learning page, Hartley's principles
Learning results from inferences, expectations and making connections. Instead of acquiring habits, learners acquire plans and strategies, and prior knowledge is important.
View the Source
Structural Learning, Pedagogy Explained
Structural LearningPedagogy Explained, Five Pedagogical Approaches Explained, Cognitivism
Quote, Pedagogy Explained, Five Pedagogical Approaches Explained, Cognitivism
focuses on what happens inside the mind...chunk their explanations into small parts
View the Source
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Developed By: Jean PiagetView the Source
Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development, Piaget's theory of cognitive development, lead section
Quote, Includes: Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development, Piaget's theory of cognitive development, lead section
To Piaget, cognitive development was a progressive reorganisation of mental processes resulting from biological maturation and environmental experience.
View the Source
Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Multiple Intelligences Theory, Theory of multiple intelligences article, cognitive framing
Quote, Includes: Multiple Intelligences Theory, Theory of multiple intelligences article, cognitive framing
In 1983, the field of cognitive neuroscience was embryonic, but Gardner was one of the early psychological theorists to describe direct links between brain systems and intelligence.
View the Source
UIC Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence, Teaching Guides
Includes: Bloom's Taxonomy, Bloom's Taxonomy guide, cognitive domain
Quote, Includes: Bloom's Taxonomy, Bloom's Taxonomy guide, cognitive domain
The cognitive domain is focused on intellectual skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creating a knowledge base.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.

View At A Past Year

The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.