This blog is meant for students in the doctoral seminar, DCI 791: Cognition and Instruction.
The first discussion we will be having is on just what a cognitive approach to education research and development is, and the kinds of questions asked by cognitive researchers. Please read the Greeno, Collins and Resnick article as well as Donald Norman.
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The cognitive approach to education views (or models) learning as the process of the establishment of connections within the mind of an individual. Just like a computer, a person has short and long term memmory. As a pragmatist, I agree with this approach; I believe there are many useful aspects of cognitivist approach that we can employ in education.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there is something that bothers me and I would like to share this with you and will appreciate your comments.
What bothers me is as follows: If we see the human brain as a computer, we are limited with the capacity of this computer. There are faster computers with more memory and newer and more efficient technologies inheret. I mean to say that some computers are more "intelligent" than others, and the extent to which you can exploit a computer is directly related with how "intelligent" it is. Here comes my problem: We have the human brain whose misteries we are yet to discover and whose capacity is yet unknown and to be explored. I am disturbed by the idea that what we can teach a human is limited by his/her intelligence. I have noticed as an educator that a person does get more intelligent given the right circumstances and training; a person highly motivated and dedicated can learn to improve himself/herself unlike a computer. And nourishing the human brain with the right food and stimuli can expand its capacity.
I will appreciate your thoughts on this issue.
Rusen.
Hi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteI would really like to know what the following means to you as an educator:
1. The best educational experience for a teacher and a student
2. The best teacher and his/her goals in his/her profession
I will really appreciate your comments.
Rusen.