information processing theories Flashcards
(30 cards)
What metaphor underpins Information Processing theories?
The mind as a computer.
What are the “hardware” and “software” in the mind as a computer model?
Hardware: brain and sensory systems
Software: strategies and rules
What are the basic information processing functions?
Acquisition, encoding, storage (sensory, working, LTM), and retrieval.
How does cognitive development occur in IP theory?
By overcoming processing limitations like memory capacity and strategy use.
What cognitive capacities develop over time?
Working memory, long-term memory, executive functioning, and processing speed.
What is executive functioning?
Control of cognition: inhibition, strategy use, working memory coordination, and cognitive flexibility.
What contributes to increased processing speed during development?
Myelination of axons (Paus, 2010).
What remains consistent in working memory, and what improves?
Structure is consistent; capacity and speed increase.
What are examples of cognitive strategies?
Rehearsal, organization, selective attention.
What did Chi’s research on chess show?
Children can outperform adults in memory tasks when they have greater domain-specific knowledge.
What is Siegler’s Overlapping Waves model?
Strategy change occurs through variation and selection, not in fixed stages.
What is the goal of automatisation in strategy use?
To free up processing capacity by making tasks automatic.
What is generalisation in cognitive strategy use?
Applying a strategy across different contexts or problems.
How can education support information processing development?
By teaching problem-solving strategies and fostering strategy transfer.
What underpins cognitive development in sociocultural theory?
The interaction between social activity (intermental) and individual thinking (intramental).
What are two human traits key to cultural learning (Tomasello)?
Inclination to teach
Inclination to learn from others
How do cultural tools affect cognitive development?
Tools like language and social norms shape knowledge and learning.
What is guided participation?
A process where children learn through structured interaction with more knowledgeable others.
What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
The range between what a child can do alone and what they can do with help.
What is social scaffolding?
Temporary support to help a child perform at a higher level.
What is intersubjectivity?
Mutual understanding in communication.
What other tools support cognitive development in sociocultural theory?
Joint attention, language (labels), and dialogue.
What is dialogic talk and why is it important?
Talk that explores ideas through reasoning and questions—linked to better learning outcomes.
What distinguishes collaboration from cooperation?
Collaboration involves mutual engagement toward shared goals and exploratory dialogue.
