Cognitivism is an important part of classroom learning. It is all about the associations and connections of the lessons to the learner. Dr. Orey stated that cognitivism is the elaborations to remember things. People don't just forget things, but they forget how to retrieve the information from their memory (Laurete Education). When using technology in effort to support cognitive thinking the teacher needs to use lots of images, but also use text. Make it relevant to the students, so they can make connections. There are many powerful mind tools in technology. Some examples would be Power Point, Excel Spreadsheets, and concept mapping tools. These applications allow the students to focus on the solutions rather than the process. It is important for the teacher to try to give the students episodic events in the classroom. These events will trigger the short term memory to turn it into something that is worthy of storing in the long term memory. When the student thinks of something that relates to the event it will bring back the memories of the episodic event.
Using the instructional strategies of cues, questions, and organizers will use the cognitive form of thinking. The students will learn to be able to retrieve, use, and organize the information on the topic ( Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, & Pitler, p. 73). Cues and questions provide the same information to the students. They trigger or give them hints about what they will be experiencing or learning. Organizers help students learn in an organized fashion. They give the students structure in the lesson. There are many types of software and applications available to the students that would satisfy these areas. Word processing gives organization to note taking by having options of outlines or bullets. There is spreadsheets that shave time off of our Math lessons to get the end result instead of focus sing on the process. There are many types of concept mapping or organizational software such as Kidspiration, webspiration, and Rapid Fire.
When thinking of taking notes most students cringe, but if taught correctly and given the tools to be successful it can be a powerful thing to learn. Sometimes student based notes are not always good. How can we expect students to read our minds on what is important. Give them teacher created notes to guide them along. Give the students multiple examples on what are good ways to take notes. Microsoft Word can be used as a note taking tool. There are different applications teachers can teach their students to use for their notes. Again concept mapping or organizational software can be very helpful to organize thoughts. Even multimedia sources such as Power Point are useful to create cognitivism learning tools in the classroom.
Brandy Rainey
Resources
Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K., & Pitler, H. (2007) Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009) Cognitive learning theories. Baltimore: Author.
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Hi, Brandy. I completely agree with your thoughts on the importance of note taking. I used to always give my students the information they needed to know on a power point presentation or using an overhead projector. Students would literally sit in the dark and write as quickly as they could to keep up with the information. I came to realize that they were simply memorizing the notes and not really processing them. Our school has really stressed teaching note taking strategies in the last year or two and I have completely changed the way I give notes, in fact, I no longer "give" notes. Students are asked to read through the material themselves and pull out the information they think is relevant, or the most important. While this takes a lot more time than when I gave them the needed information to copy, it is worth it! I even questioned my students one day as to whether or not they liked the new way of taking notes, and while several complained that it took too long, they all ultimately said they retained the information a lot longer since they were forced to find it themselves. Note taking strategies are imperative to learn across the board in all subject areas, and I think schools today are doing a better job teaching this imperative skill than they have in the past.
ReplyDeleteJ. Robinson
Brandi,
ReplyDeleteIncorporating "dual coding" (Laureate, 2009) strategies into lessons, I think is not only critical for pre-emergent readers but essential for all learners. Coupling them with other sensory based activities is like icing on the cake.
Julie
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
J. Robinson,
ReplyDeleteI remember being in high school 10 years ago and note taking was such a tedious task. I am glad that I did learn how to do it though. It was hard to just copy down words after words. I like that you are doing something different to help them actually learn what they are note taking. Cudos!
Brandy Rainey
Before looking t concept maps and tours, I would also put notes up and lecture as students took notes for class. I also gave out organizers pre-filled in for students to study. I found student not making the necessary connections, and they were not using the organizers.
ReplyDeleteAfter using a concept map, I noticed that students liked taking part in adding information on their own and share with partners on what they found. Now when we come together, they have so much more to offer. They now tell me things about our material. I do more filling in the blanks and being the guru on what more they are curious about in our subject.
Don't you feel that it is more of a true we in the classroom, than an I or a small group?
Granted, it is not a cue all, and you still have students to help and guide, but more students click with the map approach.
Jay,
ReplyDeleteyes, I agree that it is a we in the classroom expecially with the older children. There will always be those students that we have to help, but with the maps that number is less.
Brandy Rainey
You are right. It is impossible to reach every child, however you can consistently reach more students and reduce remediation and review.
ReplyDelete