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--- learning_theories:assimilation_theory [2011/05/05 10:15]
jpetrovic [What is assimilation theory?]
+++ learning_theories:assimilation_theory [2011/07/07 11:54]
jpetrovic [What is assimilation theory?]
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-Assimilation theory (sometimes referred to as //subsumption theory// or //theory of advance organizers//) is one of the [[learning_paradigms:cognitivism#learning_theories|cognitivist learning theories]] developed by an American educational psychologist [[http://www.davidausubel.org/|David  Ausubel]] during 1960s. Ausubel was a cognitivist(([[http://books.google.hr/books?id=nNcoAO5Za9YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Learning+theories,+A+to+Z&hl=hr&ei=g1jBTYLrHInpOYGHxJ0I&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-preview-link&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|Leonard, David C. Learning theories, A to Z. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002.]]))(([[http://books.google.hr/books?id=hQD2p7DvpqAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+cognitive+revolution+in+educational+psychology&hl=hr&ei=LFnBTb2vOMuSOtzQwJ0I&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|Royer, James M. The cognitive revolution in educational psychology. IAP, 2005.]])) inspired by works of [[http://www.piaget.org/aboutPiaget.html|Jean Piaget]] (see: [[learning_theories:Stage Theory of Cognitive Development]]) and considered at the time stil influential [[learning_paradigms:behaviorism&#behaviorist_learning_theories|neo-behaviorist theories]] inadequate(([[http://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/constructivism/ausubel.html|Cooper, S. Theories of Learning in Educational Psychology: David Ausubel. Meaningful Verbal Learning & Subsumption Theory.]])). Learning, according to Ausubel's theory, occurs through **development** of **new cognitive structures** that will hold newly acquired information. Cognitive structure is
+Assimilation theory (sometimes referred to as //subsumption theory// or //theory of advance organizers//) is one of the [[learning_paradigms:cognitivism#learning_theories|cognitivist learning theories]] developed by an American educational psychologist [[http://www.davidausubel.org/|David  Ausubel]] during the 1960s. Ausubel was a cognitivist(([[http://books.google.hr/books?id=nNcoAO5Za9YC|Leonard, David C. Learning theories, A to Z. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002.]]))(([[http://books.google.hr/books?id=hQD2p7DvpqAC|Royer, James M. The cognitive revolution in educational psychology. IAP, 2005.]])) inspired by works of [[http://www.piaget.org/aboutPiaget.html|Jean Piaget]] (see: [[learning_theories:Stage Theory of Cognitive Development]]) and considered at the time still influential [[learning_paradigms:behaviorism&#behaviorist_learning_theories|neo-behaviorist theories]] inadequate(([[http://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/constructivism/ausubel.html|Cooper, S. Theories of Learning in Educational Psychology: David Ausubel. Meaningful Verbal Learning & Subsumption Theory.]])). Ausubel is concerned with developing a theory of meaningful verbal reception learning and related methods which will facilitate classroom learning(([[http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/bitstream/1892/5643/1/b12748419.pdf|Rossner, Vivian F. A description and critique of David P. Ausubel’s model of learning. Thesis (M.A. (Ed.)), Simon Fraser University, 1982.]])).
-  * "//hierarchically organized in terms of **highly inclusive concepts** under which are **subsumed less inclusive subconcepts** and informational data//".((Ausubel, Robbins, & Blake. Retroactive inhibition and facilitation in the learning of school materials. Journal of Educational Psychology, 48, p267, 1957.))
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 ===== What is assimilation theory? =====
-According to Ausubel, learner's cognitive structure and its development are central to learning. He defines **cognitive structure** as
+Learning, according to Ausubel's theory, occurs through **development** of **new cognitive structures** that will hold newly acquired information. Cognitive structure, a central term in his theory is defined as the
-  * "//individual's organization, stability, and clarity of knowledge in a particular subject matter field at any given time//".((Ausubel, David P., and Donald Fitzgerald. Chapter V: Meaningful Learning and Retention: Intrapersonal Cognitive Variables. Review of Educational Research 31, no. 5: p500 -510. December 1, 1961.))
-The cognitive structure, if well organized, enables faster learning in terms of adding new ideas and structures to it and therefore is the key aspect of learning. If cognitive structure is unorganized or badly connected, the acquisition of new information will be more difficult.
+  * "//individual's organization, stability, and clarity of knowledge in a particular subject matter field at any given time//"((Ausubel, David P., and Donald Fitzgerald. Chapter V: Meaningful Learning and Retention: Intrapersonal Cognitive Variables. Review of Educational Research 31, no. 5: p500 -510. December 1, 1961.)) and it is "//hierarchically organized in terms of **highly inclusive concepts** under which are **subsumed less inclusive subconcepts** and informational data//".((Ausubel, Robbins, & Blake. Retroactive inhibition and facilitation in the learning of school materials. Journal of Educational Psychology, 48, p267, 1957.))
-**Knowledge** is in assimilation theory organized hierarchically in a pyramidal shape where more general ideas and concepts appear at the top of the pyramid and get more and more specific to the bottom of it. New knowledge is **assimilated** in this hierarchy by **anchoring** to already existing more general concepts. The closer to the top of the pyramid an idea is, the more general it is and the longer is its life time.
+As mentioned, **knowledge** is in assimilation theory organized hierarchically in a pyramidal shape where more general ideas and concepts appear at the top of the pyramid and get more and more specific to the bottom of it. The closer to the top of the pyramid a concept is, the more general it is and the longer is its life time. New knowledge is **assimilated** in this hierarchy by **anchoring** to already existing more general concepts (so called //anchoring concept// or //anchoring site//). The //anchoring concept// is characterized by its availability, clarity, stability in the cognitive structure, relevance to and discriminability from concepts that are about to be learned. Characteristics of existing concepts (potential anchoring sites) define the overall characteristics of one's cognitive structure: if well organized, it enables faster learning in terms of adding new ideas and structures to it and therefore is the key aspect of learning. If cognitive structure is unorganized or badly connected, the acquisition of new information will be more difficult.
 Ausubel distinguishes between //meaningful// and //rote learning//.
-  * **Meaningful learning** is learning that is well **anchored and integrated** in the cognitive structure. It occurs when learner can find meaning in the information presented. Meaningful learning won't occur unless the new ideas are presented in a clear way that enables their relating with other ideas, unless the learner already possesses those other ideas he can relate the new ones with and unless the learner actually makes an attempt to do so. If those conditions are satisfied, new ideas will remain anchored in his knowledge and if not, learning will be rote.
+  * **Meaningful learning** is learning that is well **anchored and integrated** in the cognitive structure. It occurs when learner can find meaning in the information presented. Meaningful learning won't occur unless the new ideas are presented in a clear way that enables their relating with other ideas, unless the learner already possesses those other ideas he can relate the new ones with and unless the learner actually makes an conscious attempt to do so. If those conditions are satisfied, new ideas will remain anchored in his knowledge and if not, learning will be rote.
-  * **Rote learning** on the other hand represents knowledge that **remains unrelated** and unanchored to existing concepts and is therefore easily forgotten.
+  * **Rote learning** on the other hand represents knowledge that remains **unrelated** and unanchored to existing concepts and is therefore easily forgotten.
-Defined concept of meaningful learning leads to another key aspect of Ausubel's theory: prior knowledge. Since relating old and new knowledge is crucial for meaningful learning, prior knowledge or the existing ideas are the key enabler or restraint of what can be learned next.
+As a result of meaningful learning, the new idea will remain anchored to a so called **subsumer** (//anchoring site// of the idea). That of course doesn't mean that the learned idea can't be forgotten: this process, referred to as //obliterative subsumption//, happens as more specific idea becomes less and less distinctive from its subsumer until it is finally forgotten.
+Defined concept of meaningful learning leads to another key aspect of Ausubel's theory: **prior knowledge**. Since relating old and new knowledge is crucial for meaningful learning, prior knowledge or the existing ideas are the key enabler or restraint of what can be learned next.
   * "//If I had to reduce all of educational psychology to just one principle, I would say this: The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach him accordingly.//"((Ausubel, David P. Educational Psychology: A cognitive view. London: Holt, Reinhart, & Winston, 1968. p. 18.))
-As a result of a successful meaningful learning, the new idea will remain anchored to a so called **subsumer**. That of course doesn't mean that the learned idea can't be forgotten: this process, referred to as //obliterative subsumption//, happens as more specific idea becomes less and less distinctive from its subsumer until it is finally said to be forgotten.
-Another important and rather controversial part of Ausubel's theory are the **//advance organizers//**: introductory material presented "//in advance of the learning material itself//" and "//at a higher level of abstraction, generality, and inclusiveness//" than the learning material((Ausubel, D. The Psychology of Meaningful Verbal Learning. New York: Grune & Stratton. 1963.)). Purpose of advance organizers is to **help replace the missing concepts** necessary for successful acquisition of new information by providing a link between the new material and the learner's established cognitive structure. Organizers help the learner realize where the new material fits in relation to the prior knowledge about the material.
+Another important and rather controversial part of Ausubel's theory are the **//advance organizers//**: introductory material presented before the learning material "//at a higher level of abstraction, generality, and inclusiveness//"((Ausubel, D. The Psychology of Meaningful Verbal Learning. New York: Grune & Stratton. 1963.)) than the learning material. Purpose of advance organizers is to help replace the missing concepts and bridge new material to learner's established cognitive structure. They help the learner realize where the new material fits in relation to the prior knowledge about the material and should not be confused with summaries or overviews which usually present key ideas of the material.
+[[http://cmapspublic2.ihmc.us/rid=1094487285248_442176581_5443/Ausubel%27s%20theory.cmap|{{ images:ausubel.jpg | A visual representation of Ausubels theory. Image borrowed from: http://cmapspublic2.ihmc.us/... Click on the picture to follow the link. }}]]
 Advance organizers should be of greater help to students with less organized cognitive structures, since organized cognitive structures already possess developed anchoring ideas. Organizers can be most productive when closely related topics or unitary topics need to be learned and when learners prior knowledge can be assessed. Advanced organizer can include various types of material like pictures, verbal descriptions, prequestioning techniques, and cultural background knowledge(([[http://www.jstor.org/pss/329009|Herron, C. An investigation of the  effectiveness of using an advance organizer to introduce video in the foreign language classroom. Modern language Journal, 78, 190-197. 1994.]])). So far no significant differences in effects of this types of organizers have been reported(([[http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a713757529~db=all|Togo, Dennis F. Topical sequencing  of questions and advance organizers impacting students examination performance.  Accounting Education, 11(3), 203-216. 2002.]])).
-[[http://cmapspublic2.ihmc.us/rid=1094487285248_442176581_5443/Ausubel%27s%20theory.cmap|{{ images:ausubel.jpg?866x434 | A visual representation of Ausubels theory. Image borrowed from: http://cmapspublic2.ihmc.us/... Click on the picture to follow the link. }}]]
 Ausubel's ideas of human cognitive structures also served as a motivation for introducing [[instructional_design:concept mapping]] and similar instructional materials.(([[http://books.google.hr/books?id=nNcoAO5Za9YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Learning+theories,+A+to+Z&hl=hr&ei=g1jBTYLrHInpOYGHxJ0I&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-preview-link&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|Leonard, David C. Learning theories, A to Z. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002.]]))
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 ===== Criticisms =====
-Critics of Ausubel's theory often reflect the fact that he doesn't describe construction of organizers so different researches provide different results of their efficiency. Ausubel's theory is also in most of its claims quite opposite of [[http://www.psych.nyu.edu/bruner/|Jerome Bruner]]'s [[instructional_design:discovery learning]].
+Critics of Ausubel's theory often reflect the fact that he doesn't describe construction of organizers so different researches provide different results of their efficiency(([[http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/bitstream/1892/5643/1/b12748419.pdf|Rossner, Vivian F. A description and critique of David P. Ausubel’s model of learning. Thesis (M.A. (Ed.)), Simon Fraser University, 1982.]])). Ausubel's theory is also in most of its claims quite opposite of [[http://www.psych.nyu.edu/bruner/|Jerome Bruner]]'s [[instructional_design:discovery learning]].
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 [[http://imet.csus.edu/imet10/281/docs/ivie_1998.pdf|Ivie, Stanley D. Ausubel's Learning Theory: An Approach To Teaching Higher Order Thinking Skills.(educational psychologist David Paul Ausubel). High School Journal 82.1: 35(1). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. CSU Sacramento University Library. 13 October 2006.]]
+[[http://books.google.hr/books?id=xCfeUdolvM4C&pg=PA22&dq=Ausubel+David&hl=hr&ei=2mHBTd6VDMyeOrGyjJ4I&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Ausubel%20David&f=false|Mohan, Radha. Innovative Science Teaching: For Physical Science Teachers 3Rd Ed. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., 2007.]]
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