1. Running Head: UNIT THREE 1
Unit Three: Dr. Mary Learns a New System
‘Learning and Development’ Cognitive Perspective
Lauren Fowler-Carter
University of Houston-Clear Lake

2. UNIT THREE 2
Unit Three: Dr. Mary Learns a New System
‘Learning and Development’ Cognitive Perspective
Dr. Mary Thomas, a sixty plus year old woman running her own family
practice, is motivated to transfer all of her paper medical records into a new electronic medical
record system. Since Dr. Mary missed some of the training that took place for the new electronic
system, she now depends on interactions from her staff and symbolic representation in order for
her to learn the new system.
Dr. Mary previously took a computer class at a community center, but did
not fully complete the course. This is the only computer experience that Dr. Mary has. Since Dr.
Mary was relying on her staff to teach her the new system, the staff came up with the idea to give
Dr. Mary as general overview of all they learned during their training and ask medium-level
thought provoking questions. These questions were meant to provoke cognitive conflict.
Eventually, as Dr. Mary interacted with her staff and the new system enough to where she
learned how to operate the new system without needing any help.
Initial Focus Questions & Answers
1. What theorist does the concept of ‘symbolic representation’ belong to?
- The concept of symbolic representation belongs to Jerome Bruner. Symbolic
representation is a part of Bruner’s Three Modes of Cognitive Representation.
2. What was the main role of the learner, Dr. Mary, in this story?
- Dr. Mary’s main role as she learned the new system was to interaction with her peers
and environment.
3. Who played the role of the instructor in this story?
- The staff involved Dr. Mary in the process of inquiry and problem solving.

3. UNIT THREE 3
4. What theory/theorist is the most prominent throughout this story?
- The theory that is most prominent throughout this story is the ‘Interactional Theories of
Cognitive Development’. Though there seem to be traces of both theories, this theory
appears the most throughout the story.
5. Is the zone of proximal development apparent in this story?
- It was not clear on whether zone of proximal development was in this story, though this
concept is used mostly towards children. By going off of the definition of the concept and
having a gap between Dr. Mary’s developed capabilities and undeveloped capabilities,
then yes, zone of proximal development is represented in this story. This will depend on
the viewpoint of the reader.
6. Did Dr. Mary learn by discovery?
- No, because she used the help of others, or interaction to learn the new system.
7. According to Piaget’s stages of development, what stage is Dr. Mary in.
- Since Dr. Mary is over the age of 60, she is in the ‘formal operational period’ of
development.