Woolfolk Ch 8 Vocab Flashcards
Cognitive view of learning
a general approach that views learning as an active mental process of acquiring, remembering, and using knowledge
Cognitive science
The interdisciplinary study of thinking, language, intelligence, knowledge creation, and the brain
Domain-specific knowledge
Information that is useful in a particular situation or that applies mainly to one specific topic
General knowledge
Information that is useful in many different kinds of tasks; information that applies to many situations
Information processing
The human mind’s activity in taking in, storing, and using information
Sensory memory
System that holds sensory information very briefly
Attention
Focus on a stimulus
Automaticity
the result of learning to perform a behaviour or thinking process so thoroughly that the performance is automatic and does not require effort. Sometimes refers to excitement or stress
Working memory
The information that you are focusing on at a given moment
Short-term memory
Component of memory system that holds information for about 20 seconds
Central executive
The part of working memory that is responsible for monitoring and directing attention and other mental resources
Phonological loop
Part of working memory. A speech- and sound-related system for holding and rehearsing (refreshing) words and sounds in short-term memory for about 1.5 to 2 seconds
Visuospatial sketchpad
Part of working memory. A holding system for visual and spatial information
Episodic buffer
The process that brings together and integrates information from the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and long-term memory under the supervision of the central executive
Cognitive load
the volume of resources necessary to complete a task
Intrinsic cognitive load
The resources required by the task itself, regardless of other stimuli
Extraneous cognitive load
The resources required to process stimuli irrelevant to the task
Germane cognitive load
Deep processing of information related to the task, including the application of prior knowledge to the new task or problem
Maintenance rehearsal
Keeping information in working memory by repeating it to yourself
Elaborative rehearsal
Keeping information in working memory by associating it with something else you already know
Chunking
Grouping individual bits of data into meaningful larger units
Interference
Processing new information interferes or gets confused with old information
Decay
The weakening and fading of memories with the passage of time
Long-term memory
Permanent store of knowledge
Declarative knowledge
Verbal information; facts; “knowing that” something is the case
Procedural knowledge
Knowledge that is demonstrated when we perform a task; “knowing how”
Self-regulatory knowledge
Knowing how to manage your learning, or knowing how and when to use your declarative and procedural knowledge
Explicit memory
Long-term memories that involve deliberate or conscious recall
Implicit memory
Knowledge that we are not conscious of recalling, but that influences our behaviour or thought without our awareness
Semantic memory
Memory for meaning
Propositional network
Set of interconnected concepts and relationships in which long-term knowledge is held
Images
Representations based on the physical attributes�the appearance�of information
Dual coding theory
Suggests that information is stored in long-term memory as either visual images or verbal units or both
Concept
A category used to group similar events, ideas, objects, or people
Defining attribute
Qualities that connect members of a group to a specific concept
Prototype
A best example or best representative of a category (concept)
Exemplar
An actual memory of a specific object
Theory-based
An explanation for concept formation that suggests our classifications are based on ideas about the world that we create to make sense of things
Schemas (singular, schema)
Basic structures for organizing information; concepts
Story grammar
Typical structure or organization for a category of stories
Episodic memory
Long-term memory for information tied to a particular time and place, especially memory of the events in a person’s life
Flashbulb memories
Clear vivid memories of emotionally important events in your life
Procedural memory
Long-term memory for how to do things
Script
Schema or expected plan for the sequence of steps in a common event such as buying groceries or ordering pizza
Productions
The contents of procedural memory; rules about what actions to take, given certain conditions
Priming
Activating a concept in memory or the spread of activation from one concept to another
Elaboration
Adding and extending meaning by connecting new information to existing knowledge
Organization
Ordered logical network of relations
Context
The total setting or situation that surrounds and interacts with a person or event. It includes internal and external circumstances and situations that interact with the individual’s thoughts, feelings, and actions to shape development and learning
Levels of processing theory
Theory that recall of information is based on how deeply it is processed
Spreading activation
Retrieval of pieces of information based on their relatedness to one another. Remembering one bit of information activates (stimulates) recall of associated information
Retrieval
Process of searching for and finding information in long-term memory
Reconstruction
Recreating information by using memories, expectations, logic, and existing knowledge
Mnemonics
Techniques for remembering; the art of memory
Loci method
Technique of associating items with specific places
Acronym
Technique for remembering by using the first letter of each word in a phrase to form a new, memorable word
Chain mnemonics
Memory strategies that associate one element in a series with the next element
Keyword method
System of associating new words or concepts with similar sounding cue words and images
Rote memorization
Remembering information by repetition without necessarily understanding the meaning of the information
Serial-position effect
The tendency to remember the beginning and the end, but not the middle of the list
Part learning
Breaking a list of items into shorter lists
Distributed practice
Practice in brief periods with rest intervals
Massed practice
Practice for a single extended period
Automated basic skill
Skill that is applied without conscious thought
Domain-specific strategies
Consciously applied skills to reach goals in a particular subject or problem
