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Cognition refers to mental activity including thinking, remembering, learning and using language.
When we apply a cognitive approach to learning and teaching, we focus on theunderstaning of
information and concepts. If we are able to understand theconnections between concepts, break
down information and rebuild with logicalconnections, then our rention of material and
understanding will increase.
When we are aware of these mental actions, monitor them and control ourlearning processes it is
called metacognition
Thought processes have been studied by philosophers for centuries. However, the psychological
studyt of cognition is a relatively new area ofstudy with its origins in the 1950's. The study of
metacognition is evennewer, much of the work in this area originated in the 1970's.
Rejecting the pure stimulus-response approachof the behaviorists, cognitive psychology draws
much from theGestaltists who focus upon insight anddefine it as "the sudden perception of
relationships among elements of aproblem situation."(LeFrancois, 1972). Cognitive theories view
learning asa process of recognition. The learner perceives new relationshipsamong the parts of a
problems.
Cognitive theory maintains that how one thinkslargely detemines how one feels and behaves. This
relates to and incorporates to all forms of knowing,including memory, psycholinguistics, thinking,
comprehension, motivation, andperception.
According to Kate McGilly (1996), students are not learning to their full potentialdue to the fact
that more often than not, they use rote memoryprocedures in the classroom. With the increased
competition in the work forceand jobs becoming more demanding, students need to be more
prepared for higherlearning and the job market with skills that evolve from cognitive theory. These
skills, including study skills, social skills, problem solving, andorganizational skills to name a few,
should be taught and integrated across thecurriculum.
This web page was originally created by Kristin Raines, Michelle Pronti, and DickTaylor in 1996.