Summary:

The way that people think impacts their behaviour.

An expansion of behaviourism that accepts that mental states exist.

Originators and contributors:

Merrill (Component Display Theory – CDT)

Reigeluth ( Elaboration Theory)

Gagne

Briggs

Wagner

Bruner (moving towards cognitive constructivism)

Schank (scripts)

Scandura (structural learning)

Key words:

Schema, schemata, information processing, symbol manipulation, information mapping, mental models

Cognitivism:

A theoretical framework for understanding the mind that gained credence in the 1950s. The cognitivist movement was a response to behaviourism, which cognitivist said neglected to explain cognition.

 

Theories:

Weiner – Attribution theory

Sweller – Cognitive load theory

Mayer – Cognitive theory of multimedia learning

Reigeluth – Elaboration theory

Brown, Collins and Duguid – Situated cognition

Piaget – Stage theory of cognitive development