Learning and Cognitive Process - Chapter 6

To learn and remember something effectively, we must give our undivided attention- that is, we must mentally focus on it and temporarily make it the center of our cognitive world. As teachers we must continually emphasize the importance of understanding classroom subject matter, making sense of it, drawing inferences from it, seeing how it all ties together rather than simply memorizing it in a relatively thought free manner. This emphasis must be reflected not only in our worlds but also in our instructional activities, classroom assignments, and assessment practices. For instance, rather than just presenting important ideas in class room lectures and asking student to take notes, we might also ask thought provoking questions that require students to evaluate, synthesize, or apply what they are learning. Or as an alternative to asking students to memorize procedures to adding two two digit numbers, we might ask them to suggest at least three different ways they might solve the problem. And rather than assessing their knowledge of history, names, places, and dates, we might then ask them to explain why certain historical events happen and how those events altered the course of subsequent history. Such approaches will not only make student learning more meaningful and effective but will also enhance their belief that classroom topics are interesting, enjoyable, and in some way relevant to their own lives.