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How to Use Cognitive Learning Theory

May 16, 2023

in the 20th century, Swiss educator, Jean Piaget, worked at the Binet Institute where he was the one who translated English intelligence questions to French. While at the Binet Institute, Piaget became obsessed with the fact that the children who were logically challenged got it incorrectly, while others answered correct.

At the time, behaviorism was the dominant theory behind this; psychologists judged children's ability to answer these questions by the interactions they had with their surroundings.

It was 1936 when Piaget was a proponent of a different theory -- he posited that the internal workings of a child's brain determine what they do when it comes to logic questions. His theories on intelligence included:

  • Children's thinking develops in phases, and their behavior change to reflect these mental changes.
  • Children's intelligence differs from adults' in terms of quality (not in terms of quantity). It is due to the fact that children see the world in different ways than adults.
  • The children don't only communicate with their surroundings; they also store knowledge about the world in their minds and how they respond to problems that require logical thinking

Jean Piaget termed his line of thinking as "cognitive theories of learning". Over the years, educators all over the world have utilized methods of cognitive learning to help their students to become better learners.

Find out:

What is Cognitive Learning?

The term 'cognitive learning' comes from cognition which is the process of processing and retention information through senses, thought as well as experience. Learning through cognitive processes, as a whole is a method of learning that involves effectively making the most of your brain's abilities.

Think back to your time at high school. Did you have a particular subject you simply loved? It was one that you were able to comprehend because it simply clicked with you? How about a concept or topic that you were hard to comprehend regardless of how hard attempted?

According to Piaget's cognitive learning theory, your capacity to understand and comprehend the subject is dependent on the way your brain process the information that pertains to that subject. However, with the help of the use of cognitive strategies, you'll be able to deal with topics that are naturally hard to understand. The reason is that these methods help you create connections between the new information as well as existing ideas. This improves your ability to retain and recall knowledge.

The present day cognitive learning theory has been broken into two categories:

  • Social Cognitive Theory: This is the idea that the objects that people observe around them and the behaviors they observe influence their behaviour and the speed at which their brains grow cognitionally. A student's behavior may be affected when they look at their teachers or peers. Teachers are therefore encouraged to set the example.
  • Cognitive behavioral theory: This is the idea that how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves are all connected, and it can impact their ability to be able to study. If, for instance, students believe that they're inept at Physics and believes they'll never comprehend it, no matter how it's explained the lesson, they'll be likely to feel angry and angry during a Physics course, this can result in poor results.

Strategies for cognitive learning aim to break down barriers in learning, and provide alternatives (and more personalized) methods for students to learn. Understanding the concepts can make you a more effective (and faster) learner, and increase the likelihood of achieving success at everything you commit your brain to.

What exactly are components of Cognitive Learning?

For anyone who wants to learn something (or two) These are essential components of cognitive learning that you must know about:

Comprehension

Memory

The practice of rushing information to memorize it is not a successful method to learn, and the cognitive methods of learning discourage this. With cognitive learning, your aim is to gain a thorough knowledge of the subject so you can connect the concepts that are new to you with previous knowledge.

Application

Cognitive learning techniques will encourage you to consider the material in your course or lesson and work out how to apply it to real-life circumstances. Doing so helps you develop advanced critical thinking skills in problem-solving, as well as qualities of leadership that you can apply at school as well as in the workplace.

What is the distinction between constructivism and cognitivism?

Jean Piaget's research in cognitive development comprised two distinct concepts of cognitivism as well as constructivism. Both concepts are similar in the sense that both focus on the mental processes which are associated with learning, in contrast to only being observable in the external world. But cognitivism and constructivism differ.

In cognitivism, individuals are seen as beings who can think, analyze and assess any new information without having to participate actively in it. Therefore, instead of simply being able to respond to stimuli externally and absorbing them via training, students can evaluate the data and then store the information.

One of the best examples of cognitivist learning are lectures. In lectures, all students have to do is sit down in their chairs (or in front of their laptops) and watch teachers explain ideas. Although note-taking is great, students can merely absorb the knowledge the teacher is passing across to them without taking notes.

Constructivism On contrary, encapsulates the notion that we are able to process and interpret data based on their the previous experience and knowledge. That is, they are actively creating their own understanding that shapes their perspective about reality. According to the constructivists, in order for knowledge to stay with us students must be able to participate in the learning process.

Therefore, instead of lecture classes, constructivist teachers tend to prefer creating interactive group exercises and providing students with problems to solve as well as experiments to run and actual situations that they can apply their knowledge to.

Examples of cognitive learning

There are various types of cognitive learning. Here are 10 types of cognitive learning.

Implicit Learning

Did you learn something you didn't intend to? If so, you've been through an implicit learning. When you learn implicitly typically, you're not conscious of the entire process until the moment you notice you have a new ability/knowledge that was not there before.

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

Learning explicit

Learning is explicit when you actively seek out knowledge. Contrary to implicit learning learning requires you to continually pay attention and put in the time to be proficient at the subject you're studying. Some examples of explicitly learning include enrolling in an online course to master content marketing, or returning to college to get a new diploma.

Collaborative or cooperative learning

This form of learning comprises four components, including:

  • Individual responsibility: Although people are working together in an organization, every person should have duties they are personally responsible for.
  • Multi-channel interaction: All members of the group ought to be able to have discussions about the topic they're learning and how they're each utilizing their learning.
  • Positive interdependence: Although each member in the group should have the responsibility for their individual, they should also be able of obtaining help from others whenever they require it.
  • Equal participation: In collaborative learning, every member of the group is equal. Nobody is more privileged or has a higher rank than others.

Discovery learning

When you continuously seek out new knowledge by doing research on new concepts, ideas, or subject matter, you're participating in a process of discovery. As an example, if you're writing an essay and need an application like Hemingway Editor to edit and proofread, you'll end up discovering more information about the editing software itself through discovery.

Meaningful learning

The process of learning that makes sense is by connecting recent experiences to their previous ones. It is often the case that this leads to abilities that are transferable and can be used in different areas of life, including education and job. One example of learning that is meaningful is when you're working in marketing and you take an education in marketing strategy to increase your knowledge of the subject.

Learning through emotion

Learning to manage emotions involves learning how to manage their emotions, be aware of the emotions of others, and improve their ability to deal with emotions. In whatever you do at work, a high level of emotional intelligence plays a crucial aspect in your ability to show the ability to communicate, show empathy and manage interpersonal and professional relationships.

As an example, emotional training can help you interact favorably with both introverts and extroverts, regardless of the situations you're involved in. In the case of customer service, learning how to manage your emotions and be aware of the feelings of others can help you manage customer interactions.

Learning through experience

Experience, they say, is the greatest teacher. Experience allows you to identify and inculcate valuable life lessons through your interactions with others. However, what you learn in these encounters is dependent on the way you view them.

This means that two people could have the exact similar experience and learn various lessons from the experience. As an example, if you shadow your CEO at work, you may learn the importance of leading by examples. However, someone else in your position may learn how to hold an effective board meeting.

The value of the experience is determined by how well you reflect on it and relate it to present/past events.

Learning through observation

Learning through observation involves mimicking people who possess the qualities and skills that you would like to possess. While this type of learning can be found in kids (as they mimic adults) but adults utilize it in specific situations. As an example, you could enhance your leadership skills through imitation of your boss at the workplace. It is also possible to become a stronger team player by mimicking the habits of great teammates you work with.

Learner receptive

If you learn during lectures where a teacher sits in the center of the room and explains a topic while you listen, then you're practicing receptive learning. This kind of learning demands you to actively participate by making inquiries and recording notes.

An example of receptive learning is when a school or workplace invites specialists to instruct your students or team in a classroom, hall, or workshop setting.

Non-associative learning

Non-associative learning involves adapting to a new thing or situation by re-encountering it. This kind of learning can be separated into two groups that are habituation and sensitization.

The term "habituation" refers to learning through habit. That means your response to an event (or circumstance) diminishes as you are exposed to it. In the case of, for instance, you're new to an apartment near a railway station, you could be disturbed by the sounds of trains moving through at first. As you get used to living there, the sound won't bother you as much since you'll learn to forget about the sound.

Sensitization, on the other hand it means that the way you react to a stimulus (or circumstance) gets stronger with each exposure to it. For instance, if you are just starting a new position as a receptionist might be aware immediately that your office phone starts to ring. However, as you continue to work working in the job as a receptionist, your ears become more tuned to the ringing of the phone.

Advantages from Cognitive Learning

If you'd like to test some cognitive-learning strategies, here are some benefits you stand to gain:

Improved comprehension

Learning through cognitive processes requires that students apply what they have learned into practice. A hands-on approach to learning will help students gain a better 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 abilities needed to resolve difficult challenges efficiently and quickly. These abilities are essential for any position of leadership no matter the environment.

Learning habits that continue to improve

Learning through cognitive methods fosters a passion of learning, by making learning new information exciting and exhilarating. Instead of listening in silence to new information, cognitive learning lets you apply your learning, and link the knowledge you're acquiring and what you already have learned.

Enhanced confidence

If you gain a greater comprehension of the new subject matter through cognitive learning, you'll enhance your capabilities and gain more confidence to complete assignments.

Faster learning

When you acquire new information through cognitive learning and other learning methods, you'll be able to identify some methods that work great for your needs. After you've discovered these strategies, you'll be able to learn things much faster and in the near future.

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

Spaced learning/repetition

What is different is that the three learning sessions will be on the same subject matter, only in different ways. For example, the first learning period might be the video of a professor explaining the topic. A second learning period could be a test that tests students their understanding of the information during the initial period. The final session could require applying the new information to solve a problem or task.

The 10-minute breaks in between each learning period prevent an overabundance of information to students. However, these breaks don't need to be idle as you can include distractor tasks like remembering words or performing a physical activity that is not related to the topic the subject you're presenting.

Studies have shown the fact that spaced learning is a highly effective learning method which produces excellent results on tests and lasting memory recall.

Reflection

Reflection, in learning, involves having students write down what they've learned during the course, and their lack of understanding, and how they think they can assist their teacher better.

This learning process typically comes at the end of a classroom session, you can include a reflective activity after each section you cover in your online course. It will help students understand which areas they're excelling in and what they're not, and they'll have the opportunity to revisit challenging topics. The students will also make use of that moment to make links between the new knowledge as well as their previous information.

Let your students email your reflections to you by an email. This is important because they show you:

  • What are your students doing in getting the concept
  • How effective your teaching style(s) is
  • Which topic(s) you didn't explain effectively?

If you've got this data then you can make changes to your class and assist your students to achieve more effective results.

Graphic organizers

Graphic organizers are diagrams which show connections between concepts, facts as well as ideas. The most common examples of graphic organizers are pie charts, bar diagrams, flow charts, mind maps and spider diagrams.

These organizers allow students to:

  • Take a deep look at the subject
  • Visualize procedures and processes
  • Make sure they organize their ideas
  • Make connections between the latest information and things they've learned before

You can use these cognitive tools for presenting information and helping students develop their thinking abilities. Making their thoughts more coherent patterns can aid students in developing a deeper knowledge of the subject.

Note-taking

Note-taking can be one of the most efficient ways for students to improve their listening abilities and comprehension of the subject as well as memory retention. Encourage your students to take notes of the most important aspects as they go throughout your class.

Not only is writing down the significance and use of concepts make them more readable, but note-takers are able to have a reference that they can refer to anytime if they do not remember something.

Incorporate cognitive learning strategies into your online course