Learning, Cognitive, and Memory, Essay Example

The case study at the beginning of this chapter offers some insight into how this particular student learns new information. In an effort to memorize the names of the bones in the human body, the student attempts to link the names of the bones with words, ideas, and concepts with which she is already familiar. In some instances this technique is effective; in other cases she links them with words or ideas that are not as helpful. This case study provides a demonstration about the cognitive process, and allows readers to differentiate between memorization and learning. The subsequent material in the chapter discusses a number of theories related to the cognitive process and how different models have been created to use as a frameworks for understanding this process.

Among the theoretical perspectives presented in the chapter are behaviorism, social cognition theory, cognitive psychology and contextual theories. Because cognitive processes cannot be observed firsthand, early theorists proposes that observations about responses and behavior can offer insight into the cognitive process. While this may be helpful, this theoretical framework is also somewhat limited. Social cognitive theory posits that people learn from others, from modeling behavior they see all around them. Like behaviorism, this only offers a reflection of the cognitive process, rather than a direct look at how people learn. Cognitive psychology offers a much more direct examination of the cognitive process, and attempts to understand what is happening inside the human mind during the learning process. This has the greatest implications for educators, as the insights into how the minds of different people work can be used to develop and implement educational programs and other teaching-based support. It also reminds us that people are different, and individuals students will not all utilize the same cognitive processes.

While memory and cognition are not the same thing, it is clear that memory is an important component of the cognitive process. The ability to store and retrieve information is crucial to the cognitive process, and memory has different components, such as working memory and long-term memory. These aspects of memory interact during the cognitive process, though the ways this happens will differ from one individual to another. This is also important for educators to consider, as a one-size-fits-all approach will not work in the educational context. There is a tension between the need to provide a standardized education to all students while also ensuring that the individual needs of each student are met, and educators who understand that each student will lean in different ways will be better suited to providing a complete education to all students. Teachers can foster the cognitive process by offering lessons that are stimulating and engaging, varying their instructional methods and adapting their approaches to the needs of individual students, encouraging students to take notes and fostering good organizational skills.

The information presented in this chapter has implications both for my personal and professional development. While it is helpful to gain insight into the cognitive process in order to cultivate my abilities as an educator, it also allows me to consider my own cognitive processes. The issues raised in this material has prompted me to consider a number of questions, such as how can I gain more insight into my own cognitive processes in order to better harness my own abilities? How can I take what I have learned in this chapter and apply it to the educational context in my career? Are there some fundamental skills I can develop that will allow me to better understand the cognitive processes of students?  The fundamental lesson of this chapter, for me, is that each individual learns in his or her own way. As an educator it is imperative that I avoid a one-size-fits-all approach when dealing with students, and the insight I gain into my own cognitive processes will help me better serve the needs of each student.

References

Ormrod, J. E. (2014). Educational psychology: Developing learners (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.