Methods of Cognitive Learning

Pitler et al. (2007) describes proficiency in the skills of note taking and informational organization as a means of ensuring student higher order thinking without the need for full understanding of the subject matter. The teacher guides the students to make small connections with what they already know. Furthermore, students are encouraged to place the topics into organizational patterns that they are familiar with. To explore these practices is to delve into the cognitive learning theory. Essentially, the teacher is showing students how to program data into their brains. The specific use of memory and organization building skills fosters information retention by creating several mediums in which the facts are presented to the student. They use methods like skimming to begin a pathway of learning. The facts are then reinforced with more involved creations like concept maps which require the students to reprocess the information. The presentation of subject matter in different forms helps to guarantee retention and pushes for understanding. Even simple combination notes can provide that quick link in the student’s mind that enables easy storage and recall. Advance learning practices help create the necessary set-up for cognitive learning to occur. Frankly, some students need to be taught how to learn before they can actually begin learning a subject.