Cognitive Information Processing Vs Brain-Based Learning Essay

Superior Essays
Register to read the introduction… Cognitive Information Processing examines age-related changes on what people know, how they know it, and the type of storage associated with the learning. Restak (2006) explained that one of the focuses of Cognitive Information Processing is to examine to storing and the recalling of information (p. 4). Actions include looking at various aspects of classroom instruction and identify how teaching styles, and strategies and affect memory, and the overall learning process. However, the environment still plays an important role in the learning process (p. 7). Unlike many other theories, the Cognitive Information Processing theory does not focus on explaining how individuals think or their actions (Ormrod, 2008). Although several cognitive processes are presented, the theory lacks an explanation of the learning. Miller’s Information Processing theory and framework rests on the assumption that an individual processes information, similar to that of a computer. It takes into consideration what is entered, the type of storage, whether short or long-term, the sensory register, and the individual’s ability to recall the information when needed and the amount of information given to be processed at a given time. However, like the behavior, constructivist, and cognitive approach, the Information Processing theory has pillars, similar to stages that support this type of learning. These pillars include thinking, stimuli analysis, stimulation modification, and obstacle evaluation (Driscoll, 2000, p. 13). The four pillars are essential to the individual’s ability to learn something new, and at a faster pace. Like the other types of learning theories, the Information processing theory requires some conditioning. Brain-Based Learning Research has shown that the early years of a child’s life is essential to learning, and is perceived as a significant window of opportunity to acquire information. (Healy, 2004, p. 3). Research results clearly indicate that the foundation and stage of lifelong development of learning occurs within that brief window of five years. Although learning occurs over a lifespan, it is highlighted that what takes place in the early years of the brain has implications on the brain in the later years that will follow. Brain-based learning takes into consideration the developmental stages, the structure, and function of the learner’s brain. Although the brain-based research is not as aged or extensive as other theories, researchers have found that there are fundamental principles that are important to learning. These principles include having a safe environment, emotional healthiness, assessment and feedback, student choices, and relevancy (Immordino-Yang & Damisio, 2006, p. 183). Cognitive Information Processing and Brain-Based Learning It is stated that “the brain is the central organ for learning, and scientific research on learning and the brain promises many important new insights and tools that will improve education around the world” (Fischer& Immordino-Yang, 2008, p. …show more content…
22). Both Cognitive Information Processing and Brain-based learning requires learners to become active participants in their learning. Although representing two different approaches to learning, both focuses deeply on how instruction can be improved based on research about the human brain. Fischer& Immordino-Yang (2008) explained that both theories are based on neuroscience (p. 20). Many of the suggested teaching strategies that are presented in the brain-based learning theory are also evident in the cognitive information processing theory. By providing feedback to the learners, implementing instructional tools such as diagrams and graphic organizers learners are able to construct meaning and deepen their understanding therefore promoting effective learning. Simple actions in the classroom that can increase student learning for both theories include presenting content and activities that are relative to the current world and experiences of the learners, and serving as a model to motivate the learner (Erlauer, 2003, para. 4). References Driscoll, M.P. (2005). Psychology of Learning for Instruction. (3rd ed). Boston, M.A. Pearson Education, Inc. Erlauer, L. (2003). The brain-compatible classroom: Using what we know about learning to improve teaching. Alexandria, VA: ASCD Fischer, K. & Immordino-Yang, M.H. (2008). The Jossey-Bass reader on the brain and learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Immordino-Yang, M.H & Damisio, A. (2006). In Fischer, K. & Immordino-Yang, M.H. (2008). The Jossey-Bass reader on the brain and learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Martinez, M. (2010). Learning and cognition: The design of the mind. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Ormrod, J. (2008). Human learning (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall. Restak, R. (2006). How our Brain constructs our mental

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Trung Hoang Professor Pete Nguyen Engl 101 18 September 2015 Kinesthetic: Modern learning style Throughout life, I use kinesthetic learning style to improve my education because it is one of the best effective learning styles which support me in this modern society. People need to have a good education to support them because knowledge will help them overcome any problems.…

    • 946 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The general argument made by Annie Murphy Paul in her work, Smart Strategies That Help Students Learn How to Learn, is that students and teachers should merely focusing on teaching more cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies instead of focusing on content. More specifically, Paul argues that teachers should focus on teaching students how to learn. She writes,” Teaching students how to learn is important as teaching them content. ”(P4). In this article, Paul is suggesting that teaching students different strategies of learnings is equally vital as teaching them content.…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Cognition, as defined in our notes, is the “mental processes related to acquisition, storage, and retrieval” (Frank P. Gengaro, Ph.D., MSW, M.A., LCSW, SI, TM, TM, TL, TMC, TTP). This basically means that cognition has a huge part in acquiring information and storing the information in an efficient way so that we can access it whenever we need to. The main way that we study human cognition is through the humanistic perspective. The humanistic perspective suggests that we are social creatures who interact with other social creatures for the sole purpose of survival. We use cognition in an adaptive, as well as, maladaptive way to survive.…

    • 1256 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are many ways in which people learn, some people learn more individually while others learn in more of a collaborative environment. While people learn in more personal ways the brain works in two main ways; top-down and bottom-up. In top-down learning scenarios, people know that there is something that they are working for to complete the mission at hand. In bottom-up learning scenarios where there is some stimulus which helps people influence what they are looking at. Education systems across the United States still do not understand how people learn in different ways because for most schools in the United States still teach in standard ways.…

    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Considering that the cognitive perspective is the study of mental processes, the application is inexplicably large and vast, yet, among the various instances of the utilization of the cognitive perspective includes education and learning whereby mental constructs such as beliefs, traits, memories, emotions and motivation…

    • 239 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dunlosky's Response Paper

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Today students are not being provided with the correct recourses to be giving them the highest level of education possible and they are being left behind in their educational system. Easy-to-use techniques are being used to provide students with reaching their academic learning goals and to help this “educational crisis.” In Dunlosky’s response paper there are ten techniques that were focused on, analyzed, and attempted to help learning and too see what technique is most affective for kids. The ten techniques in this article include, elaborative interrogation, self-explanation, summarization, highlighting/ underlining, the keyword mnemonic, imagery use for text learning, rereading, practice testing, distributed practice, and interleaved practice.…

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to Bastable (2008) "cognitive learning theory is a highly active process largely directed by the individual, involved perceiving the information, interpreting it based on what is already known and then reorganizing the information into new insights or understanding" (p.60). Furthermore, the determinants of learning are: Learning needs, readiness to learn and learning style which is important to understand so that the learner can maximize their learning (Bastable, 2008). A colleague and I had to teach a praxis class in October.…

    • 205 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The way you think is more about your mindset than anything; if you set yourself up for failure you will fail, if you set yourself up for success you will succeed. By seeing the difference between the old and new brain theory, as well as some new learning skills, students will be able to see that intelligence can always be changed and improved. A student who is willing to put hard work as well as discipline into their schooling can get whatever grades or diploma they want; despite what they may think or be told about their intelligence levels. An IQ is just a label that can always be changed, this can be done by having a positive attitude, by working hard for grades and learning new learning skills to improve academics.…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Familiar Thematic

    • 1521 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Transfer Effects on Familiar Thematic to Unfamiliar Thematic Problem solving can be a complex task especially if the person is unfamiliar with the content. People use problem solving every day and often relate to past experiences in order to help them solve a novice problem According to Glaser (1984) the psychology field is gaining a further understanding of the way people think and they don’t need above intelligence to be able to problem solve. However, at the very least they do need to understand what the topic is about (Glaser, 1984). In the education system, it is often popular for students to lack an insight understanding of what they are being taught (Perkins 1991). A study on insight in education found that by teachers using mental…

    • 1521 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ideally, an educator seeks the best teaching method for his or her students; however, the debate remains, what theory is universal for teachers to use? The solution is not singular, for several theories offer exceptional suggestions on how to apply certain material that best suits the development of students. Such suggestions may come from the theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Despite their differing views in cognitive development, both have contributed to the improvement of teaching methods and as a future educator, I plan to use both elements as resources to my teaching methods. Lev Vygotsky introduced what is known as Social Development Theory.…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the article, “Why Don’t Students Like School,” Dr. Willingham describes the feelings and observations about the human brain as it relates to the process of thinking. The reason many students have difficulty connecting to the learning that takes place in schools is because the brain was not designed for thinking, but rather to save an individual from having to think about a situation or problem. The brain is busy running other processes, like memory and the visual system, to focus too much energy and power on thinking. This is one reason why the thinking process is so slow and effortful. However, sometimes the memory system can aid an individual in their thinking process.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Parker Childress Summary

    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages

    On October 13 2015, Parker Childress took the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory- High School Version, otherwise known as the LASSI-HS. Claire E. Weinstein, Ph.D. and David R. Palmer, Ph.D. developed the LASSI-HS as the Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin. This assessment was designed to test how one learns, studies, and ones feelings towards learning and studying. The LASSI-HS uses ten scales to provide standardized scores (percentile score equivalents).…

    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    High school students are not being prepared with the appropriate skills and knowledge necessary to excel after graduation. In fact, only 1 in 4 high school students graduate college-ready. (Sheehy) Are the academic techniques used today the most effective they can be? In the book How We Learn by Benedict Carey, he details multiple studies about memory and learning; and provides insight on how these studies can be implemented to create more effective ways of learning. Using Carey’s techniques can drastically improve students overall success in high school and after graduation.…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One example of cognitive learning theory is lectures. Lectures are an educational talk between a lecturer and students or an audience. It delivers educational information that students would be able to apply. In the nursing field lectures help students to apply their theory to their practical skills. Lectures can be done in different ways and styles.…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A Learning theory is a framework describing how information is processed and absorbed by our minds. Behavioural, personal and environmental factors, as well as previous experiences, all play a part in our understanding. They explain how different factors can help learners process and recall information, suggesting that as we learn we also change the way we perceive our surroundings and the way we interact with others. A definition by Kimble (1961) is that “Learning refers to a more or less permanent change in behaviour which occurs as a result of practice”, suggesting learning will almost always be permanent.…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays