Overview
This lecture continues the discussion on learning theories, focusing on core concepts of cognitive theories, including learning, metacognition, memory, transfer, and social cognitive theory.
Core Concepts of Cognitive Theories
- Cognitive theories emphasize internal mental processes over observable behaviors in learning.
- Learning is seen as the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, not just behavior change.
- Learning is domain-specific, meaning it varies by subject area and prior knowledge.
- Knowledge frameworks (schemas) help learners store, organize, and retrieve information more effectively.
Metacognition
- Metacognition means thinking about one's own thinking and self-assessing knowledge gaps.
- Learners use metacognition to monitor and adjust their study strategies and focus on weaker areas.
- Intelligent novices know what they do and do not know and actively address gaps in learning.
Memory and Forgetting
- Memory involves storing, consolidating, and retrieving information, especially when meaningful or interesting.
- Frequent recall, application, and connecting new information to existing knowledge strengthens memory retention.
- Chunking organizes information into meaningful groups (e.g., phone numbers, prefixes) to improve memory capacity.
- Forgetting occurs due to weak connections, lack of retrieval cues, or low attention/interest.
- Interference from new memories is a common cause of forgetting.
Transfer of Learning
- Transfer is the ability to apply learned knowledge or skills to new situations or contexts.
- Effective transfer depends on how well the material was originally learned, ease of retrieval, and teaching methods.
- Using real-life examples and rehearsal enhances the transfer of learning.
Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura)
- Learning can occur through observation and imitation of role models (role modeling).
- Vicarious experience means learning from others' consequences (rewards or punishments).
- Motivation, attention, retention, reproduction, and reinforcement are key processes in social learning.
- Learners are more likely to adopt behaviors from models who achieve desirable outcomes.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cognitive Theory — Focuses on mental processes (perception, memory, reasoning) in learning.
- Metacognition — Awareness and regulation of one's own thinking and learning processes.
- Schema — Mental framework for organizing and interpreting information.
- Chunking — Grouping information into meaningful units to improve memory.
- Transfer — Applying knowledge learned in one context to another.
- Role Modeling — Learning by observing and imitating others’ behaviors.
- Vicarious Experience — Learning from the observed consequences experienced by others.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review different types of learning and learning styles in the next video lecture.
- Reflect on your own metacognitive strategies and identify areas for improvement.