BRUNER’S

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COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Enactive representation (action-based)

Iconic representation (image-based)

Symbolic representation (language-based)

ENACTIVE REPRESENTATION

Action-based information

A baby may “shake a rattle” to produce a sound

Adults (typing, mowing the lawn)

How do you ride a bike?

ICONIC REPRESENTATION

Conscious

Some do not experience it

Helpful to have instruction accompanied by diagrams or illustrations

SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION

Stored as words or symbol systems

Actions and images have relation to what they represent

Dog represents a class (four legs, barks, fur, …)

BRUNER SAYS

Follow progression through different stages of representation

Learner of even a young age capable of learning, as long as material is organized

Contrasts to Piaget and other stage theorists

DISCOVERY LEARNING

Draw from past experiences and knowledge

Students may be more likely to remember concepts discovered on their own

CONSTRUCTIVISM

New information learned through prior knowledge

Teachers should allow students to construct knowledge on their own.

Example: A teacher gives students supplies and have them figure out what they can make with the supplies given.

AdvantagesActive

Engagement

Motivation

Responsibility and Independence

Creativity and problem-solving skills

Disadvantages“Cognitive

Overload”

Hard for teachers to detect problems in the individuals

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CLASSROOM

Medio’s Exploring Ancient Architecture

Louis Cat Orze • Model of Louis XIV court at Versailles solve the mystery of Queen

necklace

Google Earth

Interactive Body System• Self Guided interactive human body exploration

SimCity• How to establish a community

REVIEW

• ___________________ is an example of Enactive Representation.

• ___________________ is an example of Iconic Representation.

• ___________________ is an example of Symbolic Representation.

• In Discovery Learning, students draw from _______________________ and ______________________.

• An advantage of Discovery Learning is _______________________.

• A disadvantage of Discovery Learning is ________________________.

WORKS CITEDBruner, J.S. (1967). On knowing: Essays for the left hand.

Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.

McLeod, S. A. (2008). Simply Psychology; . Retrieved 13 March 2012, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html

Smith, M.K. (2002) 'Jerome S. Bruner and the process of education', the encyclopedia of informal education http://www.infed.org/thinkers/bruner.htm