What is "Cognitivism?"

According to the Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) model, the human processes information much like a computer would. In fact, computer processing was based on the CIP model. Information is put into the brain and stored in memory until the time when it is needed to be output again.

For some examples, click on CognitivismMetaphors

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Stages of Information Processing:

1. Sensory memory - this memory is brief; a touch, a whiff of a smell, a flicker of light in a dark room. More SensoryMemory information here.
2. Short-term memory - temporary working memory much like the RAM on a computer. The limited information in short-term memory is held for a limited amount of time, perhaps only a few minutes. More ShorttermMemory information here.
3. Long-term memory - considered a permanent storehouse of information. Things that one remembers after a long period of time, such as several years. Capacity is limitless but the tendency to forget or "lose recall of" this information can be likely. More LongtermMemory information here.
4. Recall - many procedures can be used to get all that stored information back out. More RecallInformation here.

This information was paraphrased from the book Psychology of Learning for Instruction by Marcy P. Driscoll

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Key Cognitivists

• Jean Piaget -
• Lev Vygotsky -
• Robert Gagne -

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Additional Resources

http://www.revision-notes.co.uk/revision/67.html
http://www.gsu.edu/~mstswh/courses/it7000/papers/newpage9.htm
http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/psy/cognitivism.html
http://www.clat.psu.edu/homes/jds100/john/kbase2/cognthy/cognitivetheory_1.html http://web.cocc.edu/cbuell/theories/cognitivism.htm