I find the study of Cognitive Learning so fascinating! Now I really understand how cognitive strategies are designed to help learners develop an awareness of how they think so as to improve understanding not just simply telling them what to think. The strategies linked to cognitive learning are very practical to utilize in the everyday classroom and make so much sense when I think of how I learn as well. As I was learning about "Elaboration" and how it is the primary mechanism for long term memory, I could relate to the fact that my students (just as I do) need to have those associations and connections that all link together in order to remember something. Everyone can relate to the feeling of "forgetting" or "blanking out" on something that we have already learned. I really was intrigued at the idea that I did not "forget" but simply forgot how to find my way to the connection of that memory of whatever it was. The General Lee concept map was a great example and a great way to illustrate the elaboration process.
I have been trained on "Thinking Maps" at my school which are along the same lines as concept mapping. They are simply visual ways in which students learn to organize their thoughts. "Thinking Maps are INCREDIBLE and can literally be used in ALL subjects. I use them everyday with my kindergartners and they can even tell you why we choose to use each map. They love them! This strategy of concept mapping correlates to the principles of cognitive learning because Dr. Orey mentioned that each idea that we have in our memory is linked to other memories and that images are better at helping people store information rather than just text. The Dual Codes Hypothesis that was referenced in the video links sight and smell to the primary mechanisms used for memory. When utilizing "Thinking Maps" students then have a visual representation and are linking ideas together that are forming strong connections. The more connections being made the more elaboration happens, thus those ideas enter into students' long term memory. If technology is then added to that mix (using my interactive SMARTboard with Thinking Maps"), now you not only are providing visual organization but you are integrating multiple senses as well and this will create successful information processing among your students.
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I also think concept mapping is a valuable tool for use across the curriculum. I particularly am looking forward to using concept mapping in my Geometry classes when I teach proofs. I too have an interactive whiteboard in my classroom and think the concept map coupled with the whiteborad will certainly provide students the opportunity to visualize the concept.
ReplyDeleteI have not had much experience using concept maps before. I can see how beneficial they are by linking ideas together and conncecting ideas to prior knowledge. I too have a Smartboard, but I do not use the application that much with it. Are you using the Smart Notebook to make your map? Now that I think about it, this would be the perfect software to make a map. I think this would be a great class activity and it would really improve our classroom discussions. Thanks for the insight.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of using the Smartboard with concept maps. I think it is a great way to get all students actively involved during group activities. It is also a good way to help students articulate what they are thinking and how they are organizing information.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny,
ReplyDeleteI really think you keyed in on a great idea: how versus what. That is exactly the struggle we get into nowadays, especially in high schools. The students are so concerned with college and doing things right that a lot are just ready to regurgitate and not truly think.
Part of the International Baccalaureate Programme that my school is adopting is really focused on getting the students to create their own thoughts and connections with guiding questions. These are not to be 'cues' or 'suggestions' but open-ended questions that have no right answer, and certainly not one that the teacher is looking for specifically. It have been really interesting to take this challenge on and I have found that to help create a sense of self in our students, we really have to be ready to challenge our own beliefs from time-to-time when having those deeper discussion - especially in the subjects we love.
Like Kate, I also like the idea of using your SMARTboard with concept mapping. We have ACTIVboards in our rooms, but a lot of teachers are still trying to use them on a regular basis. Kudos to you for really incorporating the technology!
~Jessica