Cognitivism

Cognitivism has been defined as a learning theory that focuses on mental processes-how information is perceived, organized and stored in our memory. It is believed that this theory deals with the learner’s ability of the mind to perceive and process the information. This theory has been popularized by Jean Piaget-a famous psychologist for children development. Each stage involves different level of knowledge obtained by children.

 The Stages of Cognitive Development:

1. Sensorimotor Stage: Birth to 2 years: The infant obtains perception of his environment through his senses and movement-by seeing, touching and even imitating sounds that he hears.
2. Preoperational Stage: 2 to 7 years: Children in this stage most likely animates things-having the idea that non-living things do exist in real life.
3. Concrete operational Stage: 7 to 11 years: The major point in this stage is that children can think logically about concrete things.
4. Formal operational stage: ages 12 and up

At this stage, teenagers to adulthood think logically.

The important concepts in this theory are as follows:

1. Schema-units of knowledge that help in understanding and knowing.
2. Assimilation-process of fitting new information into the information already existed.
3. Accommodation-modifying existing information to adopt the new information.
4. Equilibration-Maintaining a balance between accommodating the new information to previous knowledge (assimilation) and adjusting knowledge already existed to account for new information.

Another theorist associated with cognitivism is Lev Vygotsky. He said that culture serve as a mediator for the formation and development of specific abilities, such as learning, memory and attention and problem solving. 

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Vygotsky stated that students should be taught within the ZPD area where they can almost perform a certain task on their own with the assistance of teacher, as an example. Enough guidance and support from teachers or adults can help the students do the task on their own. The study of cognitivism theory contributed a lot in the field of education. This has been a basis of long-term discovery of appropriate methods of teaching and identify the learning style of students. It is important to consider not only this theory, but all other theories as well to provide fundamental aspects that will improve the course of education.

URL: Cognitivism