Promoting Personalized Learning With The Learning Theory Of Cognitivism
Our perception of learning has evolved significantly in recent years. Previously, learning was a black-or-white situation, limited to yes or no and right or wrong questions. This only managed to promote memorization while there was little consideration for learners’ unique backgrounds, experiences, and preferences. However, once we realized that not everyone can learn the same way, educational courses improved by adopting a more learner-centered approach. But where did this realization come from? In this article, we explore cognitive learning theory (CLT) and its focus on the learner instead of just the learning content. We will also suggest 6 ways to effectively apply cognitivism to promote personalized learning and maximize the effectiveness of your eLearning initiatives.
Exploring The Origins Of Cognitive Learning Theory
Cognitive learning theory emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to behaviorism. Psychologist Jean Piaget, one of the key figures supporting this theory, argued against the idea that people passively absorb information and react to external stimuli, as was behaviorism’s foundational principle. Instead, Piaget claimed that learners actively process and organize the information they receive based on their existing cognitive frameworks. As a result, instead of focusing on external stimuli and motivators, cognitivism zeroes in on the internal processes of the learner’s mind, such as organization, memory, attention, categorization, reasoning, and many more. Cognitivism also uses the concept of metacognition—the awareness and understanding of one’s own thinking and learning process—thus allowing learners to optimize how they learn.
Cognitive learning theory has just as much application in the world of learning as it had at the beginning of the previous century, especially when it comes to promoting personalized learning. This is because it recognizes the uniqueness of each learner and takes into account that their experiences, memories, and prior knowledge affect their current learning process.
Now that we know what CLT is about and have established its significance in education, let’s discuss how to implement cognitivism to foster personalized experiences for learners.
6 Ways Cognitivism Fosters Personalized Learning
1. Establish Prior Knowledge
One of the key principles that cognitive learning theory relies on is that learning is influenced by an individual’s previous experiences and existing cognitive structures. As a result, when developing an eLearning course, especially one that focuses on the learner, you need to establish the learner’s baseline. Using assessments, quizzes, or concept maps, you can determine a learner’s current understanding of a specific topic, as well as their preferred and most effective mode of learning. This way, you can connect new information to existing knowledge, thus enhancing the comprehension and retention of the learning material.
2. Utilize Metacognitive Strategies
Identifying a learner’s thinking processes when using cognitivism to promote personalized learning is crucial. However, learners must also have the tools to do this themselves. This touches on the idea of metacognition, which is fundamental in cognitive learning theory. By recognizing their own learning processes, learners can better understand how they learn, expand on these insights, and improve the way they approach new material. There are various ways to help learners develop metacognition, such as self-assessment checklists, reflective journaling, and guided questioning. These strategies will encourage learners to analyze their learning habits and identify opportunities for improvement.
3. Present Material In Different Formats
One of the main ideas of CLT is that each individual learns differently. Therefore, if you want to accommodate these unique preferences and promote personalized learning based on cognitivism, you must represent learning content in different formats, such as text, videos, podcasts, or infographics. This way, your eLearning course will be more accessible to learners, whether they prefer visual, auditory, or written stimuli. Additionally, visual aids and interactive tools can make online courses more engaging and ensure your audience fully comprehends the learning material.
4. Foster Problem Solving And Critical Thinking
According to cognitive learning theory, learners don’t passively accept knowledge but rather process and organize it. To make this possible, they must develop essential cognitive skills such as problem solving and critical thinking. These capabilities enable learners to take a piece of information, analyze it, recall relevant prior knowledge, apply logical reasoning, and categorize it appropriately for enhanced retention. To maintain the nature of personalized learning, help learners hone their problem-solving skills using project-based learning and case studies, which expose them to a wide variety of challenges while accommodating different learning preferences.
5. Leverage Adaptive Learning Technology
Adaptive learning uses data and insights regarding each learner’s unique needs to continuously adjust the learning content. As a result, it aligns perfectly with cognitivism and personalized learning. Nowadays, adaptive learning is accomplished through the use of dedicated AI-powered platforms and tools that automatically analyze learner performance to provide personalized recommendations, adjust the difficulty level, and provide learners with the support they need. With these tools, learners receive content that is tailored to their strengths and weaknesses, leading to faster knowledge acquisition and improved long-term retention.
6. Encourage Self-Paced Learning
Another way to effectively promote personalized learning is to allow learners to learn and grow at their own pace through self-paced learning. Staying true to cognitivism, this strategy recognizes that learners not only have different learning preferences but also different processing speeds. Some may grasp concepts after hearing them once, while others may require additional repetition. A few self-paced learning options that you can offer learners to empower them to learn at their own speed include recorded lectures, interactive modules, flexible deadlines, and asynchronous communication tools, among others.
Conclusion
Cognitive learning theory provides a perfect framework for promoting personalized learning by recognizing and prioritizing each learner’s unique needs. The principles of this learning theory urge you to delve deeper into your audience’s strengths and weaknesses and create learning content that not only improves learning results but also helps them develop the necessary skills to effectively acquire new knowledge in the future. Follow the tips we shared in this article and empower your learners to take control of their learning journey.
