The cognitive learning is a term that combines the concept of traditional learning with the new discoveries made in recent decades about the functioning of the human brain. It is, therefore, a type of learning that takes into account the way in which our mind works to improve our results..
Cognitive learning theory arises from the discovery that every time we receive new information, it is processed and filtered by our brain before we can memorize it. Because of this, if we know how this processing works, we can learn more efficiently.
Various investigations on this subject have shown that there is no single way to acquire new information. On the contrary, there are normally thirteen different types of cognitive learning, being able to use one or the other depending on the situation in which we find ourselves and the nature of what we want to learn.
Cognitive learning theory is used in fields as diverse as psychology, communication, and education. In addition, it has affected other theories, the most important of which are cognitive behavioral theory and social cognition theory. In this article we will see exactly what it consists of.
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The basic idea of cognitive learning theory is that the way we memorize new information is highly influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Due to this, it tries to understand which are the elements that most influence our learning, with the aim of being able to get the most out of them..
The goal of cognitive learning is therefore to be able to improve the way in which information is presented to a person in different contexts. The most obvious is the educational system, but this theory also has useful applications in other fields such as psychology or communication..
At a practical level, cognitive learning theory has given rise to two interrelated but distinct paradigms: the theory of social cognition, and the cognitive-behavioral theory. Next we will see what each of them consists of.
The theory of social cognition states that there are basically three variables that influence learning processes: behavioral factors, environmental factors (extrinsic) and personal factors (intrinsic). The relationship between these three elements is what causes learning to occur.
In the interaction between the person and their environment, elements such as beliefs, ideas and mental capacities are modified by the presence of external factors, which can range from a stressful environment or a friendly teacher to the temperature that is in the learning environment.
On the other hand, the relationship between the internal factors of the person and their behavior is two-way. Behavior is capable of influencing the beliefs and ideas of the individual, but thoughts can also change the way they act.
In addition to this, the environment also modifies to some extent the way a person behaves. This occurs mainly by moderating the behaviors that were already going to occur depending on the social context in which the person is..
Thus, the theory of social cognition affirms that for adequate learning to take place, it is necessary for a person with the correct characteristics and positive behavior to be in an environment that encourages the acquisition of new information.
In addition to this general idea that we have already described, the theory of social cognition also includes other concepts that are very useful when it comes to understanding how learning works. For example, it states that each new information we receive is examined in relation to other similar experiences we have had in the past..
On the other hand, this theory also states that it is possible to acquire new behaviors and ideas simply by observing other individuals who already exhibit them, which is known as “observational learning”.
In addition to this, the learning processes derived from the theory of social cognition focus on improving the emotional capacities of the subjects, in order to achieve that new information is acquired in the best possible way even when the environment in which the learning is not the most appropriate.
Cognitive behavioral theory is one of the most important in the world of clinical psychology. It focuses on studying the relationships between a person's behavior, their emotions, and their beliefs. These three factors influence each other reciprocally, and are fundamental to understanding the human experience..
Cognitive behavioral theory is commonly used in the world of psychological therapy. This approach focuses on changing a person's thoughts and beliefs, as well as their behaviors, so that they improve their mood and the way they relate to the world..
At the learning level, cognitive behavioral theory says that there are three elements that especially influence the information we can memorize: how we see ourselves, the way we perceive the world around us, and the way we think it is. will develop the future.
Cognitive learning theory affirms that we do not only acquire new knowledge: each time we internalize new information, we generate a change in the knowledge that we had previously stored. Therefore, the process described by this theory is quite different from other similar ones..
On the one hand, this psychological theory states that we can never start learning from scratch. On the contrary, a person always has some knowledge on any subject, be it preconceptions, deductions or ideas that he had acquired in a previous learning.
Due to this, in any new learning that occurs the new information has to interact with that which was already present in the person's brain. This implies that the new knowledge cannot be stored as it has been presented, but is moderated by the filters of the individual's mind..
Cognitive learning theory speaks of four steps to acquiring new knowledge. Next we will see exactly what each of them consists of.
As we have already seen, people always have preconceptions about whatever topic we are trying to learn from. These ideas may arise from personal experience, a deduction, or knowledge that had been formally acquired on the subject before..
People are not always aware of the beliefs we have about what we are going to learn. For this reason, many times we do not realize that we are not storing the new knowledge objectively, but rather nuanced by our previous experiences on the subject at hand..
The second part of learning according to this theory is exposure to the knowledge that is intended to be acquired. This has to come from an external source, be it from a book, a web page, a teacher's presentation or another similar source..
At this point, the environment, the emotional state and the capacities of the person influence the way in which he will perceive the new knowledge that is presented to him. The theory of cognitive learning studies which are the most optimal states of each of these points when giving new information to an individual.
The third step of learning is the processing of the new information presented in the previous point, and the replacement of previous ideas with new ones. This change is the most complex part of the whole process, therefore it is the one that has been studied the most from this theoretical approach..
Finally, the person, after comparing the new information with the one they already possessed and processing it through their filters, integrates it into their mind. As we have already seen, the knowledge that arises as a result of this process is different from both the previous information and that which has been presented to the individual..
Cognitive learning theory describes thirteen different ways in which we can acquire new knowledge. In this section we will see a brief description of each of them.
The first type of learning occurs when the person is not aware that he is acquiring new knowledge. Therefore, it is something unintentional. Normally, skills related to movement are acquired; some examples would be speech or the ability to walk.
It is the opposite of the previous one. This learning is characterized because the person consciously decides to acquire new knowledge. Usually, it requires the individual to maintain their attention in a sustained way, and make an effort to internalize the new information.
It is the kind of learning that is achieved in collaboration with other people. It is based on interdependence, individual responsibility, simultaneous interactions and equitable participation. When it occurs, each participant in the group contributes their strengths and helps fill the deficiencies of the rest.
This type of learning occurs when the new knowledge is relevant on an emotional and motivational level for the person. The individual is able to connect his previous experiences with the information that he is going to acquire, in such a way that the learning is much more deep and lasting.
This way of acquiring knowledge is based on establishing a relationship between two stimuli, or a stimulus and a behavior. It was first discovered by Ivan Pavlov in his famous salivation experiment in dogs, in which he made an animal anticipate its food just by hearing a bell..
Associative learning is one of the most important bases of behaviorism, the predominant current in psychology for much of the 20th century.
These two processes belong to what is known as non-associative learning. Together, they explain the way in which we react to a stimulus that we encounter continuously. When we face the same situation over and over again, two things can happen: either we get used to it, or we become sensitized.
Habituation implies that the same stimulus will have a less and less effect on us the more we expose ourselves to it. With awareness raising, the opposite occurs: the more we face the same situation, the more it will affect us..
Discovery learning occurs when a person actively seeks to acquire new knowledge. Due to this, it is necessary that there be a certain degree of curiosity so that an individual can carry out this process.
Also called vicarious learning, this process occurs when a person is able to acquire new knowledge or skills simply by observing and imitating another individual. It generally has to do with motor processes, although it can also occur when acquiring cognitive skills.
Emotional learning involves better identifying and understanding your own feelings. At the same time, it is also related to the ability to handle, control and manage them even when they are very intense..
One of the best ways to acquire new knowledge is to take action. Many researches suggest that direct experience is much more effective than simple memorization when it comes to integrating new learning.
This type of cognitive learning is based on trying to include information in memory literally. Because of this, no comprehension of any kind is necessary, but simple data storage. It is one of the most difficult and ineffective learning.
It is a completely passive type of learning. In it, the person is only exposed to the information that he wants to internalize, without having to take any action. It occurs, for example, in a master class at the University, where a teacher exposes the subject and the students listen.
Like memorization, receptive learning is very ineffective in acquiring new knowledge.
The last type of learning is that which involves acquiring new knowledge about the way our own mind works. It consists of understanding our strengths and weaknesses, in order to develop a strategy that allows us to get the most out of it..
Cognitive learning theory has had a great influence in many different areas; but without a doubt, the field that has taken advantage of it the most is education.
In many schools around the world, new learning data has been applied to improve the way children acquire knowledge.
Thus, in so-called “experiential schools”, children learn by performing tasks and associating new knowledge with what they already knew instead of passively listening to a teacher and memorizing information.
In this way, the results that are achieved are much better and the process is much more pleasant for the little ones..
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