learning_theories:assimilation_theory
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learning_theories:assimilation_theory [2011/05/05 10:38] jpetrovic [What is assimilation theory?] |
learning_theories:assimilation_theory [2011/07/07 11:34] 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.]])). |
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| - | * "//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? ===== | ===== 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 |
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| - | * "//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//. | Ausubel distinguishes between //meaningful// and //rote learning//. | ||
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| ===== Criticisms ===== | ===== 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://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.]] | ||
| ===== Read more ===== | ===== Read more ===== | ||
learning_theories/assimilation_theory.txt · Last modified: 2023/06/19 18:03 (external edit)
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