Understanding How the Brain Processes Information

     For this week’s entry I have choose two articles from education.com.  The two articles I choose are Information Procession Theory, and Metacognition.   

Information Processing Theory

Author: Gregory Schraw/Matthew McCrudden

http://www.education.com/reference/article/information-processing-theory/

In this article the information processing model is used as a metaphor for successful learning because it is well supported by research and provides a well-articulated means for describing the main cognitive structures (i.e., memory systems) and processes (i.e., strategies in the learning cycle (Schraw & McCrudden, 2009).  I found this article valuable because it helped me to understand how sensory, working and long term memory work together.  The article also provides a model showing how the working memory and long-term memory are connected by encoding and retrieval processes (Schraw & McCrudden, 2009). The last topic covered is Implications for Instruction.  The information processing model provides four important implications for improving learning and instruction (Schraw & McCrudden, 2009).

Metacognition

Author: Linda Baker

http://www.education.com/reference/article/metacognition/

The topics in this article are:

-          Historical Roots of inquiry in metacognition

-          Importance of Metacognition in Theories of Learning and Instruction

-          Developmental and individual Differences in Metacognition

-          Assessment of Metacognition

-          Instructional Implications

The term metacognition literally mean cognition about cognition, or more informally, thinking about thinking.  John Flavell (1976) defined metacognition as knowledge cognition and control of cognition.  The knowledge component encompasses what one know about cognition, including knowledge about oneself as a learner, about aspects of the task at hand, and about strategies needed to carry out the task effectively (Baker, 2009).  This article is valuable because it covers the importance of metacognition in learning theories.  I also like that the article covers instructional implications and how medacognition can be included in teacher preparation and in classroom curriculum (Baker, 2009).

References

Baker, L. (2009). Metacognition. Retrieved from  http://www.education.com/reference/article/metacognition/

Flavell, J. H. (1976). Metacognitive aspects of problem solving. In L. B. Resnick (Ed.), The nature of intelligence (pp. 231-235).  Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

Schraw, G., & McCrudden, M. (2009). Retrieved fromhttp://www.education.com/reference/article/information-processing-theory/