The Cognitive System Define and discuss the major viewpoints and theories related to the cognitive...

The Cognitive System

Define and discuss the major viewpoints and theories related to the cognitive system in the systems model of human behavior.

Developed by W. Huitt, 1999


Cognition can be defined as

"the act or process of knowing in the broadest sense; specifically, an intellectual process by which knowledge is gained from perception or ideas” (Webster's Dictionary).


Central to the development of psychology as ascientific discipline

• Wilhelm Wundt’s laboratory (1879)

• Dominate approach within psychology today

• Can be compared/contrasted with• Behavioral view• Psychoanalytic view

• Humanistic view• Social Cognition view


There are a variety of perspectives and emphases within cognitive psychology that arecurrently impacting educators' thinking about how to improve the teaching/learning process.

Information Processing

Focuses on the study of the structure and function ofmental processing within specific contexts, environments, or ecologies



Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain

Method for classifyingthe variety of educational objectives related to what and how we know



Intelligence

Focus on how human beings learn from experience, reason well, remember important information, and adapt to the environment



Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

Describes the process and stages by which human beings develop the capacity to engage in abstract symbolic thought, one of the distinguishing features of human activity




Often contrasted with the views of

Jerome Bruner (focus on structure and function of children’s thinking)




Often contrasted with the views of

Lev Vygotsky (emphasis on the social/cultural influences on children's thinking).


Several different areas of inquiry provide an opportunity to test out these different theories.

Critical Thinking

Study of the process of applying our cognitiveprocesses to evaluating arguments (propositions) and making decisions



Creative Thinking

Study of how we generate ideas and alternatives that don't fit the "norm"



Creative and critical thinking are often contrasted as the difference between

Convergent thinking

Thinking pattern that we use when we want to narrow down andevaluate ideas



Creative and critical thinking are often contrasted as the difference between

Divergent thinking

Thinking pattern we use when we want to expand or develop new ideas



A similar comparison is between left-brain and right-brain orientations in the literature on brain lateralization dominance.



MetacognitionThe study of how we develop knowledge about one's own cognitivesystem



SQ3R, SQ4R,PQ4R

Study methods that provide information about how we can be most effective and efficient during the process of learning

Any study of the teaching/learning process in the modern era demands a thorough study of the cognitive approach.


The presentations and materials available in the section on cognition will provide a brief overview of these different approaches to the study of this important topic.


The Cognitive System Define and discuss the major viewpoints and theories related to the cognitive...

Documents

Transcript of The Cognitive System Define and discuss the major viewpoints and theories related to the cognitive...