Cognitivism

Behavioral StudiesPedagogy & Learning

A learning theory that views the mind as an information processor and focuses on internal mental processes such as memory, attention and problem-solving.

Emerging as a response to behaviorism, cognitivism treats learning as the acquisition and organisation of knowledge structures, or schemas. It informs instructional design, the sequencing of content and strategies that manage cognitive load.

Related Terms
Constructivism
A learning theory holding that learners actively construct their own understanding by building on prior knowledge and experience rather than passively receiving information.
Behaviorism
A theory of learning holding that behaviour is acquired through conditioning and shaped by interaction with the environment, focusing on observable responses rather than internal mental states.
Cognitive Load
The amount of mental effort demanded by a learning task.
Schema
A mental structure that organises knowledge and guides how new information is interpreted and stored.
Metacognition
Awareness and control of one's own thinking and learning processes, often described as 'thinking about thinking'.