BRUNER’S
CONTRIB
UTIONS T
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COGNITIV
E PSYC
HOLOGY
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TI K
A T
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KY
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TH
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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