Page 59 - Class Portfolio2019

UNIT I
PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION

MODULE 10
Cognitive Theories of Learning:
INFORMARTION-PROCESSING THEORY

Objective:

 To discuss the information-processing theory and to understand how the three types of
Memory.

Brief History

In 1956, American psychologist George A. Miller developed the information process
theory and believed that the mind receives the stimulus, process it, stores it, locate it, and then
responds to it. He also stated that the human mind can only hold 5 - 9 chunks of information at
a time. The information processing theory is an approach to the cognitive development of human
being, which deals with the study and the analysis of the sequence of events that occur in
person's mind while receiving some new piece of information. George Miller compares the
information processing in humans to that of a computer model. He also said that learning is
simply knowledge that has been stored by the memory. In short, it is the analysis of the way a
human being learns something new.

The Store Model

This is breakdown of the model which states that the information that has been received can
be stored in any of the processing units, or the channels through which it passes.

These channels are the sensory register, short term memory and long-term memory.

The Sensory Register

• This is that part of the mental processing unit that receives all information and then stores
it temporarily or permanently.

• The human body has a set of sensory receptor cells which helps in converting external
energy into a message of the brain.

Short-term Memory / Working Memory

• This is a part of the sensory register where the information is stored temporarily.

• Once the decision has been made regarding the information, it will be either discarded or
transferred to the long-term memory.

• It will last for 15 - 20 seconds. However, if recalled it exists for up to 20minutes.

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