Chapter 6 Learning Log

What?
Chapter 6 is about cognitivism and learning. We discussed the three basics of learning; learning is due to experience, meaning is constructed by the learner, and prior knowledge and beliefs play a role in meaning. The brain labels and stores information for later retrieval. When we are introduced to a stimuli it goes to our R.A.S., and from there it goes to our thalamus, which sorts the information to different parts of the brain. This sorting process is short-term memory. The different parts of the brain send this information to the hippocampus for encoding, and then the information is sent back to the different parts of the brain for long-term storage. It is important to know that memory isn't stored in one place. There are also three types of memory: working, explicit, and implicit. Explicit deals with facts and events. Implicit deals with procedural, reflective, emotional (in the amygdala), and sensory conditioning. We also discussed encoding, which is the format changing of new information as it is being stored in memory.

So What?
As a future teacher knowing the process of learning and cognitive processes are important. I know understand how the different types of memory are formed and what these different types of memory are. This can help me to help my students retain the information I will be teaching them. This topic was important to be included on the syllabus now I am aware that memory isn't stored in one place, so giving students visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc. stimuli is important. Being aware of this can help me to become a great teacher by pushing me to be more cognizant of implementing different types of stimuli in my lessons. This will help my students to store the same information in different parts of the brain, making it easier for them to store and retrieve information.

Now What?
Because learning is due to experience, I'll need to review information frequently or making the learning experience memorable. Also, being aware that meaning is constructed by the learner and his/her prior knowledge plays a role in meaning will help me to strive to dispel any misconceptions that might be forming. Stimuli is taken in by the senses and memory isn't stored in one place in the brain; this information will push me to integrate different types of stimuli into my lessons, such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, musical, and linguistic activities. However, I believe that I will still need to understand more about what improves maintaining a memory and what improves retrieving a memory.