Cognitive theory is a psychological theory that explains human behavior through understanding thought processes like thinking, remembering, and decision making. It emerged in reaction to behaviorism, which cognitivists believe ignores thinking. Key contributors include Allan Paivio, who proposed dual coding theory that information is processed verbally and visually; Robert Gagne, who developed cognitive learning hierarchies; Howard Gardner, who proposed multiple intelligences; and Benjamin Bloom, who created Bloom's Taxonomy. Cognitivist teaching methods aim to help students assimilate new information by explaining it in their own words and monitoring their own progress.

1. Cognitivist Theory
By: Emily

2. What is Cognitive Theory?
It’s a learning theory of psychology that tries to
explain human behaviors by looking at the thought
processes.
Offshoot of traditional psychological concepts of
thinking, deciding, and remembering.

3. What is Cognitive Theory? (cont)
The book states, “According to cognitive theory,
activities like thinking and remembering seem like a
behavior, thus providing an avenue to use behavior
analysis to measure their effect on learning.” (Shelly,
Gunter, and Gunter)
Came around as a reaction to behaviorist thinking.

4. Cognitivists vs. Behaviorist
Because Cognitivist Theory came around as a reaction
to Behaviorist Theory there has always been some
tension between the two.
Cognitivist believe Behaviorist:
Think learning is simply a reactionary phenomenon
Ignore the idea that thinking plays a role

5. Cognitivists
These Cognitivists have contributed a lot to the
understanding of this theory:
Allan Paivio
Robert Gagne
Howard Gardner
Benjamin Bloom

6. Allan Paivio
Proposed that presenting information in both a verbal
and a visual form will enhance recall and recognition.
Developed a lot of research to support what is now
known as dual coding theory.
Dual coding theory assumes that people process
information in two distinctly different ways:
Processing images
Processing languages

7. Robert Gagne
Psychologist and educator
Developed his learning theories based on the
behaviorist’s and information-processing point of
view.
He is known for his contributions of cognitive learning
hierarchies, which involve the development of skills
based on a building-block principle.

8. Howard Gardner
Professor at Harvard University
Developed the theory of multiple intelligences
Years of research on regular, gifted students, and adults
with brain damage
Concluded individuals use eight different intelligences to
perceive and understand the world:
Linguistic-verbal
Logical-mathematical
Spatial-visual
Body-kinesthetic
Musical
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalist

9. Benjamin Bloom
Educational psychologist
Focus research on students’ learning domains
Created Bloom’s Taxonomy

10. What teachers and students do
“Cognitivist teaching methods aim to assist students in
assimilating new information to existing knowledge, and
enabling them to make the appropriate modifications to their
existing intellectual framework to accommodate that
information.”
(http://gsi.berkeley.edu/teachingguide/theories/cognitive.html)
Teachers can have students explain new material in their own
words which will help them understand and remember.
This theory is also largely self-motivated so teachers have
students monitor their progress as well as them monitoring
them.

11. Work Cited
Shelly, Gary, Glenda Gunder, and Randolph Gunter.
Teachers discovering computers: Integrating
technology in a connected world. Seventh Ed. Boston,
MA: Course Technology, 2012. Print.
http://gsi.berkeley.edu/teachingguide/theories/cognit
ive.html