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5.7 - Cognitive Learning

Interactive Audio Lesson

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Introduction to Cognitive Learning

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Teacher
Teacher

Today we are discussing cognitive learning. Can anyone tell me what they understand by cognitive learning?

Student 1
Student 1

Is it about how we think and process information while learning?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Cognitive learning emphasizes mental processes involved in learning, not just the behavior we see.

Student 2
Student 2

So it's about understanding rather than just memorizing?

Teacher
Teacher

Right. We learn to understand concepts and develop skills through insight and experience. Can anyone give an example of insight learning?

Student 3
Student 3

Like when a problem suddenly makes sense after thinking about it for a while?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! That’s a great example. Let's remember this as the 'aha moment' of learning.

Teacher
Teacher

In summary, cognitive learning focuses on how knowledge is acquired through mental processes. We'll explore insight and latent learning in detail next.

Insight Learning

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's dive deeper into insight learning. Wolfgang Köhler studied chimpanzees and found they could solve problems in ways that illustrated insight. Here’s a famous example of his: a chimp named Sultan learned to use a pole to reach bananas that were out of reach. Why do you think this is called insight?

Student 1
Student 1

Because the chimp understood how to solve the problem by thinking, not just randomly trying things?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Insight learning goes beyond trial and error. It's about seeing the solution clearly. Can anyone recall a similar experience they had?

Student 4
Student 4

Once, I was stuck on a math problem, and after thinking about it, the answer just hit me!

Teacher
Teacher

Great example! When insight strikes, it feels intuitive and immediate. It's not just about practice but about cognitive understanding.

Teacher
Teacher

In summary, insight learning reflects a moment where solutions come to mind. It's an important aspect of cognitive learning that helps us solve complex issues.

Latent Learning

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let’s explore latent learning. Edward Tolman demonstrated this through his experiments with rats in mazes. One group of rats was rewarded for finding food, while another group wasn’t. What do you think happened when the second group later received rewards?

Student 2
Student 2

They probably did just as well as the first group after they got food!

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! They had already learned the maze layout but didn’t show it until they needed to. This shows latent learning—knowledge gained but not expressed until reinforced.

Student 3
Student 3

So, they built a mental map of the maze without realizing it?

Teacher
Teacher

Precisely! This mental representation is what we call a cognitive map. It aids navigation without requiring specific stimulus-response links each time.

Teacher
Teacher

In summary, latent learning highlights that we can learn and prepare even when it’s not immediately shown. Understanding concepts like cognitive maps helps us navigate complexities in various situations.

Applications of Cognitive Learning

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Teacher
Teacher

Finally, let's consider practical applications of cognitive learning. How can we apply insight and latent learning in everyday life?

Student 1
Student 1

Maybe in studying by knowing how to connect different concepts?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Making connections enables insights and deep understanding. What about latent learning—how could that apply?

Student 4
Student 4

I guess it shows how we might pick up things just by observing in class, even if we don't realize it right away.

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! This shows that students can absorb vast amounts of information before applying it. It boosts learning in a classroom setting.

Teacher
Teacher

In summary, cognitive learning helps us realize the mental processes at work. Understanding these principles allows us to enhance our own and others' learning experiences.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

Cognitive learning focuses on the mental processes involved in learning, emphasizing insight and latent learning rather than just behavior.

Standard

Cognitive learning highlights the underlying psychological processes during learning, viewing it through the lenses of insight and latent learning. Key concepts include how cognitive maps are created and how skills can be learned without immediate reinforcement.

Detailed

Cognitive Learning

Cognitive learning is a perspective that emphasizes the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and skills, shifting focus from mere stimulus-response or stimulus-stimulus connections. This approach enriches our understanding of learning by considering internal processes such as understanding, memory, and insight.

Key Concepts of Cognitive Learning

  1. Insight Learning: Explored by Wolfgang Köhler through his experiments with chimpanzees, insight learning occurs when a solution to a problem suddenly becomes clear after a period of contemplation. For instance, a chimp might discover it can use a box to reach a banana that is otherwise out of reach. This indicates a cognitive relationship where the means to an end is understood clearly.
  2. Latent Learning: Introduced by Edward Tolman, latent learning refers to knowledge that is acquired without any immediate reinforcement or demonstration. In his experiments with rats in a maze, those that explored the maze without rewards later performed as well as those who received food immediately, suggesting they had mentally mapped the maze in advance. This illustrates that learning can occur without visible manifestations until a situation calls for the application of this knowledge.
  3. Cognitive Maps: Related to latent learning, cognitive maps are mental representations of physical spaces, which allow individuals to navigate without relying solely on stimulus-response connections.

Cognitive learning underscores that learning is not merely about behavioral changes; it involves complex internal processes that allow learners to adapt and solve novel problems effectively.

Youtube Videos

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Learning - One Shot Revision | Class 11 Psychology Chapter 6
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Chapter 6 | Learning | Psychology Class 11 | Part 2 (of 2) | Easy explanation | NCERT / CBSE

Audio Book

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Understanding Cognitive Learning

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Some psychologists view learning in terms of cognitive processes that underlie it. They have developed approaches that focus on such processes that occur during learning rather than concentrating solely on S-R and S-S connections, as we have seen in the case of classical and operant conditioning. Thus, in cognitive learning, there is a change in what the learner knows rather than what s/he does.

Detailed Explanation

Cognitive learning is a concept that emphasizes the mental processes involved in learning instead of just focusing on the stimulus-response relationships. Psychologists are interested in how knowledge is acquired, organized, and utilized by the learner. In this view, learning is seen as a change in understanding or knowledge, which may not always be directly observable through actions. Essentially, it's about what happens inside the mind during learning.

Examples & Analogies

Think of cognitive learning like studying for an exam. When you read a textbook and understand the material, you are not just memorizing answers; you are forming connections and gaining insights that help you comprehend the subject. This understanding allows you to apply knowledge later, demonstrating that your learning is more than just repeating information you're taught.

Insight Learning

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Kohler demonstrated a model of learning which could not be readily explained by conditioning. He performed a series of experiments with chimpanzees that involved solving complex problems. Kohler placed chimpanzees in an enclosed play area where food was kept out of their reach. Tools such as poles and boxes were placed in the enclosure.

Detailed Explanation

Insight learning is a type of cognitive learning where solutions to problems come unexpectedly or suddenly, rather than through a step-by-step conditioning process. Kohler's experiments with chimpanzees showed that the animals were able to solve problems by using tools available in their environment after a period of exploration and contemplation, demonstrating that they had gained a sudden understanding of how to achieve a goal.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine you are trying to solve a puzzle and you’re stuck. After a while of just looking at it and feeling frustrated, you step away for a bit. Later, while making a cup of coffee, suddenly the solution comes to you! This realization is akin to insight learning where you have figured out how to solve the problem without any prior conditioning or repetitive trial and error.

Latent Learning

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Another type of cognitive learning is known as latent learning. In latent learning, a new behaviour is learned but not demonstrated until reinforcement is provided for displaying it.

Detailed Explanation

Latent learning refers to knowledge that is acquired but not immediately exhibited. This concept was illustrated by Tolman's experiments with rats in a maze. Initially, rats that did not receive reinforcement (food) took longer to navigate through the maze. However, when they were later rewarded with food, their prior knowledge of the maze layout allowed them to navigate it as quickly as those that had been rewarded from the start. This indicates that they learned the maze even without external reinforcement.

Examples & Analogies

Think of latent learning as the way students might absorb information in class without taking notes. They might sit quietly, seemingly not paying attention, but when it comes time for a test or discussion, they can recall information and apply it perfectly. The learning was there all along, just not visible until it was needed.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Insight Learning: Explored by Wolfgang Köhler through his experiments with chimpanzees, insight learning occurs when a solution to a problem suddenly becomes clear after a period of contemplation. For instance, a chimp might discover it can use a box to reach a banana that is otherwise out of reach. This indicates a cognitive relationship where the means to an end is understood clearly.

  • Latent Learning: Introduced by Edward Tolman, latent learning refers to knowledge that is acquired without any immediate reinforcement or demonstration. In his experiments with rats in a maze, those that explored the maze without rewards later performed as well as those who received food immediately, suggesting they had mentally mapped the maze in advance. This illustrates that learning can occur without visible manifestations until a situation calls for the application of this knowledge.

  • Cognitive Maps: Related to latent learning, cognitive maps are mental representations of physical spaces, which allow individuals to navigate without relying solely on stimulus-response connections.

  • Cognitive learning underscores that learning is not merely about behavioral changes; it involves complex internal processes that allow learners to adapt and solve novel problems effectively.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • A student realizes they can condense their study notes after reflecting on their learning style—this represents insight learning.

  • A child learns to navigate through their house without being explicitly taught, using a cognitive map built through exploration.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Cognitive learning is quite bright; insight shines a sudden light.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once a chimp named Sultan was in a cage so dire, but suddenly found a pole to reach what he desired.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember 'I-L-C' for Insight, Latent learning, and Cognitive Maps.

🎯 Super Acronyms

Use 'CIL' to remember Cognitive learning

  • Connect
  • Insight
  • Latent.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Cognitive Learning

    Definition:

    Learning that involves mental processes and the understanding of how knowledge is acquired.

  • Term: Insight Learning

    Definition:

    A type of learning that occurs by understanding relationships and finding solutions suddenly.

  • Term: Latent Learning

    Definition:

    A type of learning that occurs without reinforcement; knowledge becomes apparent when needed.

  • Term: Cognitive Maps

    Definition:

    Mental representations of physical areas that aid in navigating through space.