One of the most beneficial and interesting aspects I have learned about the cognitive theory is that one of the main goals of this theory is to insure students process the information learned and commit it to long-term memory. Furthermore, one of the most beneficial ways to help students process this information is through technology.
Because technology is so useful with the cognitive theory, I have decided this theory is one of my favorite theories to teach with. I realize that cognitivist teaching is primarily teacher-centered, but technology is a great way to help students process the information while individualizing it as well. Plus, students live in a technology-centered world and by using technology with this theory, we are already tapping into their prior knowledge. I think by tapping into this prior knowledge, we are helping the students to organize the information, which helps commit it to long-term memory.
Likewise, I learned a great deal from my fellow classmates about concept mapping. Seeing their examples in their projects helped me grasp what ways I might use it in my classroom, and how it relates to the cognitive theory. Concept mapping automatically organizes the information the students are learning and reinforces the subject matter. I was never really sure what the point of concept mapping was, but after reviewing my fellow classmates projects and reading about the cognitivist theory, I understand that the maps are simply a tool to help organize information. We have actually completed similar maps this week in my classroom, however, I broke it down even more into character maps, conflict maps, resolution maps, setting maps, and plot maps. My students have actually enjoyed completing these and I think it is helping them with reading comprehension.
Cognitivism is a great teaching theory and one that I plan to use often in my classroom.
