Schema theory proposes that learning occurs as learners add new information to existing cognitive frameworks called schemata. Key factors that influence learning according to schema theory are prior knowledge and how meaningfully instructional content is organized and presented. Effective instruction activates relevant prior knowledge and makes connections between new and existing information clear. The role of the learner is to build upon and modify schemata to incorporate new knowledge, while the instructor structures content and activities to facilitate these processes. Schema theory explains learning that involves building upon previous understanding and can apply to a wide range of topics.

1. Schema Theory
Source: http://teorije-ucenja.zesoi.fer.hr/doku.php?id=learning_theories:assimilation_theory

2. Who are the representative theorists (individuals known to be associated with this
theory)?
Sir Fredic Bartlett
R.C. Anderson David Rumelhart
Jean Piaget

3. From this theoretical perspective, what are the key factors that influence learning?
Prior Knowledge Content and Content Organization
“What learners bring to the learning situation “Materials must be potentially meaningful to
dictates to a large extent what they will take learners, organized so that connections are
away from it in terms of new knowledge— easily made between new information and
concepts added to their cognitive structure or that which is already known" (Driscoll, 2005,
details elaborating the schema" (Driscoll, p 137).
2005, p 137). “Potentially meaningful materials, an
orientation toward meaningful (as opposed to
“Pre-existing schemata that can be modified rote) learning, relevant prior knowledge"
or reconstructed by analogy to account for (Driscoll, 2005, p151).
new knowledge" (Driscoll, 2005, p 151).

4. What are some basic strategies used to exemplify this theory?
Activating Prior Knowledge Making Instructional Materials Meaningful
• Comparative Organizers & Elaboration
• Advance Organizers “Are relevant and “Provide a means for systematically
inclusive to introductory materials, comparing and contrasting concepts.
provided in advance of learning Providing organizers to learners (or
materials, that serve to ‘bridge the gap having learners generate one
between what the learner already knows themselves) is one means of facilitating
and what he needs to know before he learning of unfamiliar, and potentially
can meaningfully learn the task at hand’" confusable, information" (Driscoll, 2005,
(Driscoll, 2005, p 138). p 144).
• Schema Signals “Instructors should alert • Conceptual & Pedagogical Models
students to the schematic structures of “Conceptual models are any of the
materials, problems and culture in order models invented by teachers, designers,
to facilitate learning, especially when the scientists or engineers to help make
subject matter is unfamiliar" (Driscoll, some target system understandable"
2005, p 141-143). (Driscoll, 2005, p 145). [see slide one]

5. Types of Learning Best Explained by This Theory
Modification of or Building on Prior Knowledge “Incorporating new information into an existing
cognitive structure by attaching it to anchoring ideas through processes of subsumption,
superordinate and combinatorial learning.”
• Mathematical and scientific problem solving
• Reading
• Learning languages
• Music
• Ergonomics research
• Motor Skills training
• Cooking
• Influencing consumer behavior
• Almost any abstract concept built upon a framework of concrete and relevant information!

6. Role of the Instructor Role of the Student
This is a teacher-centered approach to Make Connections between prior knowledge
instruction. and to-be learned information that results in
an elaborated cognitive structure.
Content
• Make materials meaningful to the • Construct schemata and mental models
learner • Use, modify, and automate schemata in
• Activate existing schemata solving problems
• Organizing and orchestrating content

7. Strengths Weaknesses
Learners can comprehend and remember Will not work for rote learning.
information better when they can relate it to
a familiar theme, concept or previous "Mental models are incomplete, unstable, do
experience. not have firm boundaries, unscientific and
parsimonious. And people do not have control
Learners will, by nature, apply their existing over them" (Driscoll, 2005, p 130).
schemata to new situations.
When learners apply their existing schemata
Can be used in a wide variety of applications. to new situations, it can have two distinct
As long as there is a relationship to any negative effects: 1) causing stereotypes to
previous knowledge, schemata are modified distort perceptions, and 2) potentially
to include and categorize new information. reinforcing incorrect ideas. For example, if a
schema is built around an errant result in a
lab, the learner may have a difficult time
"unlearning" that schema.
It can be difficult to quantitatively measure
learning through schemata as they are
individual arrays of information.

8. What are some good references (articles/websites) pertaining to this theoretical
perspective?
Anderson, R. C., & Tierney, R. J. (1984). Learning to read in american schools:basal readers and content
contexts. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Chamberlin, C. J. & Magill, R. A. (1992). The Memory Representation of Motor Skills: A Test of Schema
Theory, Journal of Motor Behavior, 24(4), 309-319.
Driscoll, M. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction. (3 ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
Milligan, J. R. (1979). Schema learning theory: An approach to perceptual learning. Review of Educational
Research, 49(2), 197-207.
Park, Y., Qu, H. & Lee, H. (2011). The Effects of the Image Differentiated Positioning Strategy on Airlines
Consumer Behavior: An Application of the Schema Theory, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing,
28(5), 498-523.
Plant, K. L. & Stanton, N. A. (2013). The explanatory power of Schema Theory: theoretical foundations
and
future applications in Ergonomics, Ergonomics, 56(1), 1-15.