02 Cognition and Thinking Free Online FlashCards

What is cognition?

Cognition is the mental processes involved in acquiring, organizing, using, and reflecting on knowledge.

What is attention?

Attention selects and maintains focus on information relevant to a task.

Why can distractions and complex presentations hinder learning?

Because learners cannot process every sight and sound deeply at once, distractions and overly complex presentations can compete with learning.

How can prior knowledge both help and hinder attention?

Prior knowledge can help learners notice important relationships, but it can also lead them to overlook evidence that conflicts with their expectations.

How can teachers support learners’ attention?

Clarify the activity’s purpose, highlight key information, and organize explanations into manageable steps.

What is reasoning?

Reasoning is the process of drawing conclusions, evaluating evidence, and identifying relationships among ideas.

How do organized mental models support reasoning?

Relevant knowledge organized into useful mental models helps learners interpret new situations and apply ideas flexibly.

How can teachers uncover gaps in reasoning?

Ask learners to explain how they reached an answer and compare it with evidence or an alternative explanation.

What is metacognitive knowledge?

Metacognitive knowledge is awareness of one’s strengths, strategies, and task demands.

What is metacognitive regulation?

Metacognitive regulation is the set of actions used to plan, monitor, and evaluate learning.

What are the three stages of the metacognitive cycle?

Plan by setting a goal and choosing an approach; monitor understanding and progress; evaluate the result and decide what to change next time.

What does problem solving involve?

Problem solving involves recognizing a goal, selecting relevant information, choosing and carrying out a strategy, and checking whether the result makes sense.