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Concept Mapping. Cognition (Cognitive Learning). What does this word mean? How about “Recognize” or “Incognito”? (do these help) What then is a cognitive view of learning? How might this contrast with a behaviorist perspective?. Consider.
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Cognition(Cognitive Learning) • What does this word mean? • How about “Recognize” or “Incognito”? (do these help) • What then is a cognitive view of learning? • How might this contrast with a behaviorist perspective?
Consider • Does our knowledge have a unique structure in our minds, or is it just an accumulated pile of information?
Changes in Epistemology • 1950’s Positivism and Logical Positivism are Dominant • Cumulative progression of knowledge in a rational and objective way • 1960’ to 1980’s Constructivism and Realist philosophies emerge • Knowledge as unique to the learner
Theory of Knowledge: • All knowledge is constructed by human beings. • The process is influenced by: • idiosyncratic differences • I say “tree”and you visualize a concept of a pine, while someone else thinks maple • the cultural milieu. • “Tree” for Easterner is not the same (potentially) as “Tree” for someone who lives among cacti
Changes in Psychology 1950’s -- Behavioral Psychology is dominant, especially in USA 1963 -- Ausubel’s Psychology of Meaningful Learning published 1980’s Cognitive psychology moves to dominance
David Ausubel (1968): If I had to reduce all of educational psychology to just one principle I would say this: The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach him accordingly.* * Epigraph, Educational Psychology: A cognitive view
A Theory of Knowledge Concept: A perceived regularity in events or objects, or records of events or objects, designated by a label
A Theory of Knowledge Proposition: Two or more concepts combined to form a statement about something: a unit of meaning
A Theory of Knowledge All knowledge is built up from Concepts and Propositions
A Theory of Knowledge Concept Maps: A tool to represent the structure of knowledge. A tool to facilitate Learning.
Building a Map • Start with a central question • What causes leaves to change color? • List relevant concepts • Sort, add, edit the concepts • Arrange concepts locally according to logical relationships • Promote hierarchy (I don’t follow this as much as I should) • Use linking words/arrows to create propositions • Promote as many connections (links) as feasible
New Theory of Learning Key idea: Each person must construct her/his own meanings for concepts and propositions from experiences over time, building her/his knowledge structure
Concept map for Paul drawn from an interview in grade two
Concept map for Paul drawn from an interview in grade twelve
Learning Denny, a six year old, is asked to draw a map that shows his understanding of 8 common concepts Concepts: Water Solid River Vapor Steam Ice Liquid Gas Evaporate Denny’s knowledge does not include a meaning for vapor
Learning Concepts: Water Solid River Vapor Steam Ice Liquid Gas Evaporate We can easily teach Denny the meaning of “vapor” and a new concept, “evaporate”, by showing how they relate to his current knowledge.
“Expert” concept maps can “scaffold” learning.Internet and other resources can be attached creating a knowledge model.
“Expert Skeleton” concept maps can be prepared to aid study
Sample of concept maps that might be built using the “skeleton”
Uses for Concept Maps • What did the Novak article indicate as possible uses? (let’s list some of these)
Cognitive Learning? • How might your own map about a topic differ from a second grader’s? • # concepts included • # links • Differing degrees of hierarchy invoked
Let us try to map • Why do leaves turn colors? What concepts are important here, do you think? (I’ll list them on board). Let’s shoot for 10. Your group should build a map using our map construction method.