Cognition and Instruction: Their Historic Meeting Within Educational Psychology Mayer 1992

Dr. Mayer provides an excellent analysis of the transition of cognitive learning.  Within the article he gives an indepth analysis of the evolution of cognitive theory.  He is focuses on the learners active role in instruction. (Mayer, 1992)

Mayer explanation of why educational instruction evolved based on rote memorization, which some still hold too unfortunately, to understanding why students make mistakes is transforming our schools.  There is this understanding that students are active in the learning and yet there are those that resist change.  How do we effectively implement changes that ultimately impact our students regardless of economic status?  The learning as a response acquisition though not effective is still being taught. Maybe it goes beyond the classroom there are still parents that believe in the rote systems of learning.  Drill and practice is what they were taught and therefore have a difficult time of letting go of what is familiar. But educators as well consistently have spelling test, which I personally have a hard time giving up, weekly.  I wonder if the problem is that we have not given our teacher enough tools, support and resources to effectively implement a fully cognitive learning environment?  Dr. Mayer discusses a cognitive metaphor where the learner is viewed as the processor of information and the teacher is a dispenser of information where the curriculum becomes the focus of instruction.(Mayer, 1992).  Mayer then goes on to explain that the goal of instruction is to increase the learners knowledge that is measurable. 

His learning as knowledge construction is a page out Piaget’s hand book.  Here he states that learning involves selecting relevant information and interpreting it through existing knowledge.  He does however holds the teacher accountable for children not achieving their full potential, in that we do not provide the tools and experiences for students to construct useful learning strategies(Mayer, 1992).  Teacher still must play a vital role for our students to sustain and increase their schemas.  Mayer lets us know that there are resources available, Resnick provides instructional aspect of learning that are useful.  Mayer discusses successful strategies in reading, writing and math.  The hope that instruction will universally reflect the successful practices that are accepted must happen.  Our students are depending on it.

Mayer, R. (1992). Cognition and Instruction: Their Historic Meeting Within Educational Psychology. Journal of Educational Psychology, 84(4), 405-412.