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The Use of Cognitive Learning Theory

May 16, 2023

in the 20th century, Swiss educational psychologist, Jean Piaget, worked at the Binet Institute where he was in charge of translating English intelligence questions to French. During his time at Binet Institute, Piaget became enamored with the reason certain children answered logically wrong and other children got them right.

At the time, behaviorism was the dominant theory behind that; psychologists assessed children's ability to respond to these types of questions based on their interactions with their external surroundings.

The year 1936 was the time that Piaget was a proponent of a alternative theory. He believed that the inner workings of a child's brain determine how they perform with logical questions. The assumptions of Piaget on intelligence were:

  • Children's thinking develops in phases, and their behavior alter to reflect these mental developments.
  • The intelligence of children differs from that of adults' in terms of quality (not the quantity). The reason for this is that children perceive their world in a different way than adults.
  • The children don't only engage with the world around them; they also store details about their world and how they tackle problems that require logical thinking

Jean Piaget termed his line of thinking as "cognitive learning theory". Through the years, teachers across the globe have employed methods of cognitive learning to help their students to be better learners.

Check it out to find out:

What is cognitive learning?

The term 'cognitive learning' originates from cognition which refers to the mental process of absorbing and retaining information using the senses, thinking as well as experience. Cognitive learning, in itself, is a style of learning that focuses on maximizing your brain's potential.

Remember your school days in high school. Was there a subject that you simply loved? One you found easy to understand because it just clicked for you? What about a particular concept or topic that you were difficult to grasp no matter how hard you tried?

In Piaget's Cognitive Learning theory, the ability of you to comprehend (or not comprehend -- a certain topic is dependent on the way your brain process details related to the topic. With cognitive learning strategies, you'll be able to take on topics that would be 'naturally' difficult for you to comprehend. These strategies help you make connections between new information as well as existing ideas. This improves your ability to retain and retain the information.

Today, cognitive learning theory is broken into two categories:

  • Social cognitive theory is the idea that the things people see around them and their actions impact how their behavior and the speed at which their brains grow in terms of cognitive development. For example, a student's behavior may be affected when they look at their teachers or their peers. That's why educators are encouraged to lead by example.
  • Cognitive behavior theory: This is the idea that how an individual thinks, feels and acts are interconnected, and could influence their capacity to comprehend. For example, if students believe that they're not good with Physics and believes they'll never grasp the concept no matter how it's explained the lesson, they'll be likely to feel angry and angry in a Physics class, that can lead to poor performance.

Strategies for cognitive learning aim to remove obstacles in learning, and provide alternatives (and more personalized) strategies for students to learn. Understanding the concepts makes you a stronger (and more efficient) learner, and increase your chance of success in everything you commit your brain to.

What is the components of Cognitive Learning?

For anyone seeking to improve something (or two) Here are a few crucial components of cognitive development you should know:

Comprehension

Memory

Learning by cramming to memorize it is not a successful method to learn, and the cognitive methods of learning discourage it. With cognitive learning, your goal is to get an knowledge of the subject so that you are able to connect new ideas to previous information.

Application

Cognitive learning techniques encourage you to think about the material in your course or lesson and work out ways to apply it to real-life circumstances. This helps develop sophisticated critical thinking abilities as well as problem-solving abilities and the traits of leadership you could apply at school as well as in the workplace.

What's the distinction between constructivism and cognitivism?

Jean Piaget's research in cognitive development comprised two distinct notions: cognitivism and constructivism. These two ideas are somewhat related in that they both focus on the mental processes which are associated with learning, in contrast to only being observable in the external world. Yet, constructivism and cognitivism differ in their approaches.

In cognitivism, individuals are viewed as beings who can think, analyze and assess the new information, without needing to be actively involved in the process. So rather than just responding to external stimuli and internalizing them through the process of conditioning, they can assess the information and store it in their brains.

A great example of cognitivist learning is through lectures. With lectures, all learners have to do is sit in their chairs (or in front of their laptops) and pay attention to the instructor explain certain ideas. While note-taking can be beneficial, the learners can passively absorb the knowledge the teacher imparts to them without taking notes.

Constructivism is, on the other hand, reinforces the notion that we are able to process and interpret data based on their previous knowledge and experiences. In other words, people actively make their own knowledge, which shapes their outlook of the world around them. Constructivists believe that, in order for knowledge to be retained students must be able to take part in learning.

So instead of lectures the constructivist instructors are more in favor of conducting interactive group activities, teaching students how to tackle problems and experiments to carry out, and actual situations that they can apply their knowledge to.

A few examples of cognitive learning

There are various kinds of cognitive learning. Below are 10 of them.

Implicit Learning

Have you ever learned something you didn't intend to? If you answered yes, then you've had the experience of the process of implicit learning. In implicit learning, you're usually not aware of the entire learning process until the moment you notice you have the ability or know-how was not there before.

Some of the things you could be taught include walking, talking, or even typing quickly without looking at your keyboard.

Explicit learning

Learning is explicit when you actively seek out knowledge. Contrary to implicit learning learning requires you to continually be attentive and take effort to become proficient when it comes to what you're learning. Some examples of explicitly learning are enrolling in an online course for learning about content marketing or re-entering the college you attended to earn a new degree.

Cooperative or collaborative learning

This form of learning is made up of four parts, such as:

  • Responsibility for each individual: Although people collaborate in groups, everyone should have duties they are personally responsible for.
  • Multi-channel interaction: All members of the group should be able to engage in discussions regarding the topics they're learning about and the ways in which they're applying the knowledge they've acquired.
  • Positive interdependence: While each person within the group must have the responsibility for their individual, they should also be able of obtaining assistance from each other when they need it.
  • Participation equal: When it comes to collaborative learning, every member in the group is equally. There is no one who has more power or is considered to be more superior than other members.

Discovery learning

When you continuously seek out for new information by conducting studies on the latest concepts, ideas, or subjects, you're engaged in a process of discovery. For example, if you're writing an essay that requires an application like Hemingway Editor to edit and proofread it, you'll be learning more about the editor itself through discovery.

Learning that is meaningful

Meaningful learning happens in the context of relating the new knowledge to previous experiences. The result is usually abilities that are transferable and can be used in different areas of life, including the workplace and school. An example of meaningful learning is when you work in marketing and take a marketing strategy course to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

Learning to be emotionally

The process of learning about emotions helps people learn how to manage their emotions, comprehend other people's emotions, and improve their emotional intelligence. Whatever you are doing for work, high emotional intelligence is a key aspect in your ability to show the ability to communicate, show empathy and manage professionally and interpersonal relationships.

For example, emotional learning will help you communicate effectively with people who are both extroverts or introverts, regardless of the situations that you're within. If you're in customer service, knowing how to manage your emotions and be aware of the feelings of others helps you handle your interactions with customers.

Experiential learning

They say that experience is the best teacher. The lessons you learn through experience allow you to identify and inculcate valuable life lessons through your interactions with others. What you can learn in these encounters is dependent on the way you view them.

That means two people could have the exact similar experience and learn various lessons from it. As an example, if you are a CEO's shadow in the workplace, you could learn the importance of leading through the example of your boss. But someone who is not in your job position could discover how to run an effective board meeting.

The value you get from your experience depends on how well you reflect on the event and connect it with the present or past circumstances.

Learning through observation

It is a method of learning by imitating others with the skills or traits you want to have. Although this kind of learning typically occurs in children (as they emulate adults) but adults apply it to certain settings. For example, you can develop your leadership abilities by imitating your boss at the workplace. You can also learn to be a better team player by mimicking the behavior of successful teammates you work with.

Receptive learning

If you study during lectures where a teacher sits in the center of the room and explains a topic while you are able to listen, you're doing receptive learning. Learning this way requires participants to be active in making inquiries and recording notes.

Receptive learning is when your school or job invites experts to teach your class or team in a class hall, workshop, or classroom in a workshop.

Non-associative education

Learning that is not associative involves adapting to a new thing or situation by facing it repeatedly. This kind of learning can be separated into two groups of habituation and sensibilization.

It's the process of learning that you do by habits. That means your response to a stimulus (or circumstance) diminishes as you are exposed to the stimulus. In the case of, for instance, you're moving into an apartment near a railway station, you could be disturbed by the sounds of trains passing by at first. However, as you stay there, it will not bother you so much because you'd learn to ignore it.

Sensitization is, however, means that your reaction to a stimulus (or the situation) is enhanced with time exposure. For instance, if you start a new job as a receptionist, you will notice right away when your office phone starts to ring. But as you stay longer working in the job as a receptionist, your ears become more tuned to the ringing of the phone.

Benefits from Cognitive Learning

If you'd like to try some cognitive learning methods, here are a few advantages you can reap:

Improved comprehension

The process of learning through cognition requires the students to implement what they've learned in practice. An approach that is hands-on to learning can improve a student's understanding of the subject matter and the way they can use it in their daily lives.

Improved problem-solving abilities

Cognitive learning gives people the necessary skills to resolve difficult challenges swiftly and efficiently. These skills are important for any position of leadership regardless of the context.

Habits of continuous learning

The process of cognitive learning encourages the enjoyment of learning, by making learning new knowledge fun and invigorating. Instead of listening in silence to new information the cognitive process lets you make use of your knowledge, and make connections between what you're learning and what you already know.

Increased confidence

When you get a better knowledge of new subjects by using cognitive training You'll increase your capabilities and gain greater confidence when carrying out tasks.

Faster learning

While you learn new things via cognitive learning and other learning methods, you'll be able to identify some strategies that will benefit you. After you've discovered these strategies that you can use, you'll learn things much faster and in the near future.

Cognitive Learning Strategies and How to Apply It to the Education Industry

Repetition/spaced learning

What is different is that the three learning sessions will cover the exact same subject matter, only with three distinct ways. For example, the beginning learning time could consist of an instructional video discussing the subject. A second learning period could be a test that tests students their understanding of the information in the first period. And the last period might involve applying new knowledge to solve a problem or assignment.

Ten minutes of breaks between each lesson prevent an overload of information for learners. But, breaks do not require a lot of time; you can incorporate distractor activities like memorizing words or working out which isn't related to the subject the subject you're presenting.

Studies have shown that spaced learning is an extremely effective technique for learning which can produce excellent results on tests and lasting memory recall.

Reflection

In learning, reflection requires students to write down what they've learned during the course, and the things they did not understand and what they feel they can assist their teacher better.

This learning process typically occurs at the conclusion of the class session it is possible to include a reflective activity at the end of each subject you're teaching within your online class. Students will be able to see what they're doing well and where they're not, and they'll be able to revisit difficult subjects. The students will also make use of that time to form connections between their new as well as their previous understanding.

Instruct your students to send your reflections to you via an email. It is crucial because they show that they are:

  • How your students are comprehending the topic
  • How effective is your method of teaching style(s) can be?
  • Which topic(s) you weren't able to explain effectively?

If you've got this data, you'll be able to modify your curriculum accordingly, and assist your students to achieve higher grades.

Graphic organizers

Graphic organizers are visual diagrams which show connections between ideas, information, and ideas. Common examples of graphic organizers include pie charts, bar chart, flow charts, mind maps and spider diagrams.

These organizers permit learners to

  • Take a deep look at a topic
  • Visualize the process and procedures
  • Organise your thoughts
  • Make connections between the latest information and what they've learnt before

You can use these cognitive techniques in your class for presenting information and helping students improve their thinking skills. The ability to organize their thoughts into comprehensive structures can help students develop an comprehension of the subject.

Note-taking

Note-taking can be one of the most effective strategies for students to develop their listening abilities and comprehension of the subject as well as memory retention. So encourage your students to take notes of the most important aspects as they go throughout your class.

Not only do notes on the meaning and application of concepts help them to stay longer, but those who take notes are able to have a reference they can revisit anytime if they forget something.

Incorporate cognitive learning strategies in your online course