learning_theories:assimilation_theory
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learning_theories:assimilation_theory [2011/07/07 11:54] jpetrovic [What is assimilation theory?] |
learning_theories:assimilation_theory [2011/07/07 12:02] jpetrovic [What is assimilation theory?] |
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| ===== What is assimilation theory? ===== | ===== What is assimilation theory? ===== | ||
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| 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 | 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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| 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. | 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. | ||
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| + | [[ http://cmapspublic2.ihmc.us/rid=1094487285248_442176581_5443/Ausubel%27s%20theory.cmap|{{ images:ausubel.png| A visual representation of Ausubels theory. Image borrowed from: http://cmapspublic2.ihmc.us/... Click on the picture to follow the link. }}]] | ||
| Ausubel distinguishes between //meaningful// and //rote learning//. | Ausubel distinguishes between //meaningful// and //rote learning//. | ||
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| * "//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.)) | * "//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.)) | ||
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| 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. | 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. | ||
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| - | [[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.]])). | 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.]])). | ||
learning_theories/assimilation_theory.txt ยท Last modified: 2023/06/19 18:03 (external edit)
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