This weeks reading discusses the Cognitive Flexibility Theory. This theory "emphasizes the real-world complexity and ill-structuredness of
knowledge." (Spiro, et. al) This model also involves the "selective use of knowledge to adaptively fit to decision making" in a unusual situations.
What are your initial reactions to this theory/model? What are barriers to its use? What benefits might be expected for those who overcome the barriers?
As I was reading this weeks selection, I was impressed with the level of learning that takes place with use of this model. Students will most definitely stretch their current knowledge while working through lessons developed using CFT. Another thought that entered my mind while reading about this model was "how to help our students in elementary through high school develop the basic cognitive skills to be able to use CFT in the future." Some existing barriers are that many of our students are not able to think outside the box enough to use this model. Other barriers are that most CFT situations are "ill-structured," meaning that they mimic real life uncertanties; and are often hard to make into a learning lesson.
Would you attempt to use this theory/model with the students you are currently teaching or hope to teach in the future? Why or why not? Could elements of the theory/model be modified so that it would work with your current/future students?
Although I would love to use a model such as this in my classroom, many of my students are not capable of successfully working through the model. I do use a smaller, easier version of this model with students in many of my activities, I just did not realize it had a name. For example, when teaching about budgets, I have students ask family, friends, etc., a series of questions that help them understand emergencies; etc.
Since we're taking learning theories/models that were not necessarily created with the Web in mind and turning them into Web modules, what Web-based tools or resources could be leveraged to carry out this learning theory/model online?
"Multimedia, because of its hypertext capabilities, is well-suited to modeling this flexibility due to its multidimensionality and
nonlinearity" (Spiro, Feltovich, Jacobson, & Coulson, 1991a). There is so much information available on the internet, students can become quite knowledgeable. Further, using web 2.0 tools; subject directories; etc. can help students to research scholarly information from which to increase their knowledge.
CFT lessons are hard to design if you want get a specific topic across. It seems as if students need to have this theory explained to them via video examples. If there was a site that gave teachers access to lessons that were designed using CFT, that would help teachers save time, which can be dedicated to the students.
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