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Bernard. L. (2025) Cognitivism Overview, Created on Canvas
References
References
Video Sources:
PHILO-notes. (2021, November 1). What is Cognitivism? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFZs7I4FxP4
Sprouts. (2018, August 1). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhcgYgx7aAA
Sprouts. (2020, February 28). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development in Social Relationships [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I2hrSRbmHE
Sprouts. (2020, January 31). Bruner’s 3 Steps of Learning in a Spiral Curriculum [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZfAsbhfL_Y
Sprouts. (2022, April 28). Social Learning Theory: Bandura’s Bobo Beatdown Experiments [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHIhkM1cAv4&feature=youtu.be
Textual Sources:
Bates, T. (2022). Teaching in a Digital Age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning (3rd ed.). Tony Bates Associates Ltd. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/teachinginadigitalagev3m
Kimmons, R. (2022). Education Research Across Multiple Paradigms. https://doi.org/10.59668/133
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Piaget’s Theory and Stages of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html
Bruner, J. S., & Postman, L. (1949). On the Perception of Incongruity: A Paradigm. Journal of Personality, 18, 206-223.
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Jerome Bruner’s Theory of Learning and Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
Ruhl, C. (2025, March 11). Bloom’s taxonomy of learning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/blooms-taxonomy.html
AI and Design Tools:
Canva was used to create infographics.
ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) and Gemini (Google, 2025) were used to support revision, grammar correction, content reorganization, clarity in writing, and citations with prompts such as "Please review this for clarity and organization and give me feedback on what I should revise."
Bernard. L. (2025) Cognitivism's Connections to Teaching and Learning, Created on Canvas
References
References
Video Sources:
PHILO-notes. (2021, November 1). What is Cognitivism? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFZs7I4FxP4
Sprouts. (2018, August 1). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhcgYgx7aAA
Sprouts. (2020, February 28). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development in Social Relationships [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I2hrSRbmHE
Sprouts. (2020, January 31). Bruner’s 3 Steps of Learning in a Spiral Curriculum [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZfAsbhfL_Y
Sprouts. (2022, April 28). Social Learning Theory: Bandura’s Bobo Beatdown Experiments [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHIhkM1cAv4&feature=youtu.be
Textual Sources:
Bates, T. (2022). Teaching in a Digital Age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning (3rd ed.). Tony Bates Associates Ltd. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/teachinginadigitalagev3m
Kimmons, R. (2022). Education Research Across Multiple Paradigms. https://doi.org/10.59668/133
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Piaget’s Theory and Stages of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html
Bruner, J. S., & Postman, L. (1949). On the Perception of Incongruity: A Paradigm. Journal of Personality, 18, 206-223.
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Jerome Bruner’s Theory of Learning and Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
Ruhl, C. (2025, March 11). Bloom’s taxonomy of learning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/blooms-taxonomy.html
AI and Design Tools:
Canva was used to create infographics.
ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) and Gemini (Google, 2025) were used to support revision, grammar correction, content reorganization, clarity in writing, and citations with prompts such as "Please review this for clarity and organization and give me feedback on what I should revise."
Bernard. L. (2025) Cognitivism's Strengths and Limitations, Created on Canvas
References
References
Video Sources:
PHILO-notes. (2021, November 1). What is Cognitivism? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFZs7I4FxP4
Sprouts. (2018, August 1). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhcgYgx7aAA
Sprouts. (2020, February 28). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development in Social Relationships [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I2hrSRbmHE
Sprouts. (2020, January 31). Bruner’s 3 Steps of Learning in a Spiral Curriculum [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZfAsbhfL_Y
Sprouts. (2022, April 28). Social Learning Theory: Bandura’s Bobo Beatdown Experiments [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHIhkM1cAv4&feature=youtu.be
Textual Sources:
Bates, T. (2022). Teaching in a Digital Age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning (3rd ed.). Tony Bates Associates Ltd. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/teachinginadigitalagev3m
Kimmons, R. (2022). Education Research Across Multiple Paradigms. https://doi.org/10.59668/133
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Piaget’s Theory and Stages of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html
Bruner, J. S., & Postman, L. (1949). On the Perception of Incongruity: A Paradigm. Journal of Personality, 18, 206-223.
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Jerome Bruner’s Theory of Learning and Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
Ruhl, C. (2025, March 11). Bloom’s taxonomy of learning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/blooms-taxonomy.html
AI and Design Tools:
Canva was used to create infographics.
ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) and Gemini (Google, 2025) were used to support revision, grammar correction, content reorganization, clarity in writing, and citations with prompts such as "Please review this for clarity and organization and give me feedback on what I should revise."
Implications of Cognitivism for instructional design
Implications of Cognitivism for instructional design
Applying
Applying
Objectivist Cognitivism
Objectivist Cognitivism
to Instructional Design
to Instructional Design
When designing instructional products, we can use objectivist cognitivism principles to create clear, organized learning paths that support how students process, organize, and retain information.
Here are a few tips:
Match to Developmental Level: Design instruction that aligns with students’ age and cognitive stage to support understanding and reduce frustration.
Use Measurable Action-Based Objectives: Write learning goals that are measurable, specific, and include active verbs tied to Bloom’s levels of thinking.
Chunk the Learning: Chunking learning into small, manageable pieces that progress from simple to more rigorous.
Model Strategic Thinking: Use think-alouds to walk students through the processes and strategies you want them to apply.
Practice with Purpose: Provide guided opportunities for students to apply new learning right away so it moves into long-term memory.
Offer Timely Feedback: Use frequent check-ins and formative assessments to correct misconceptions and affirm accurate thinking.
Applying
Applying
Sociocultural Cognitivism
Sociocultural Cognitivism
to Instructional Design
to Instructional Design
When designing instructional products, we can use sociocultural cognitivism principles to create opportunities for conversation and collaboration that support learning through interaction, language, and shared cultural experiences.
Here are a few tips:
Use Collaborative Tasks: Have students work together on problems, discussions, or projects to build understanding through shared thinking.
Teach in the Zone: Use pre-assessments to find out what students can do independently, then design instruction that stretches them just beyond what they can do with support
Peer Tutoring/Modeling: Select knowledgeable peers or adults to guide learning, transfer skills, and demonstrate strategies students can observe, internalize and replicate.
Make Content Culturally Relevant: Choose examples and materials that connect to students’ backgrounds, interests, and everyday lives.
Applying
Applying
Constructivist Cognitivism
Constructivist Cognitivism
to Instructional Design
to Instructional Design
When designing instructional products, we can use constructivist cognitivism principles to design active, hands-on learning experiences where students explore, question, and build their own understanding.
Here are a few tips:
Include Hands-On, Inquiry-Based Activities: Incorporate manipulatives, labs, role-play, or real-world projects that let students build understanding through experience.
Promote Multiple Representations: Give students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning in multiple ways—through writing, drawing, building, or speaking.
Create a Learner-Centered Environment: Give students choice and voice in their learning, making space for exploration and ownership.
Scaffold Student Thinking: Support students with modeling and guidance, then slowly step back as they become more confident and independent.
Encourage Metacognition: Have students think about their thinking through journaling, discussion, or self-reflection activities.
References
References
Video Sources:
PHILO-notes. (2021, November 1). What is Cognitivism? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFZs7I4FxP4
Sprouts. (2018, August 1). Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhcgYgx7aAA
Sprouts. (2020, February 28). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development in Social Relationships [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I2hrSRbmHE
Sprouts. (2020, January 31). Bruner’s 3 Steps of Learning in a Spiral Curriculum [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZfAsbhfL_Y
Sprouts. (2022, April 28). Social Learning Theory: Bandura’s Bobo Beatdown Experiments [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHIhkM1cAv4&feature=youtu.be
Textual Sources:
Bates, T. (2022). Teaching in a Digital Age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning (3rd ed.). Tony Bates Associates Ltd. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/teachinginadigitalagev3m
Kimmons, R. (2022). Education Research Across Multiple Paradigms. https://doi.org/10.59668/133
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Piaget’s Theory and Stages of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html
McLeod, S. (2024, January 24). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html
Bruner, J. S., & Postman, L. (1949). On the Perception of Incongruity: A Paradigm. Journal of Personality, 18, 206-223.
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Jerome Bruner’s Theory of Learning and Cognitive Development. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html
McLeod, S. (2024, February 1). Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
Ruhl, C. (2025, March 11). Bloom’s taxonomy of learning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/blooms-taxonomy.html
AI and Design Tools:
Canva was used to create infographics.
ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) and Gemini (Google, 2025) were used to support revision, grammar correction, content reorganization, clarity in writing, and citations with prompts such as "Please review this for clarity and organization and give me feedback on what I should revise."
Cognitive Overload Example
Cognitive Overload Example
Overview of the Instructional Material:
Overview of the Instructional Material:
My infographic presents an overview of cognitivism by highlighting five major theorists—Piaget, Vygotsky, Bloom, Bruner, and Bandura—and summarizing their key contributions. It also illustrates where each theorist aligns along the spectrum of cognitivism: objectivist, sociocultural, or constructivist.
Currently used as a reference tool, the infographic effectively supports quick recall and comparison. However, if used as a primary instructional material, it may lead to cognitive overload due to the density of information presented all at once without guided instruction or scaffolding.
Currently used as a reference tool, the infographic effectively supports quick recall and comparison. However, if used as a primary instructional material, it may lead to cognitive overload due to the density of information presented all at once without guided instruction or scaffolding.
Are Cognitive Load Principles Applied?
Are Cognitive Load Principles Applied?
Visual Chucking/Organization: My infographic is chunked by theorist, with each column representing a distinct individual. This visual structure helps learners organize information, making it easier to compare and contrast the different contributions of each theorist.
Split-Attention Effect: My infographic includes several separate elements—text, timelines, theory descriptions, developmental stages, and a visual spectrum at the bottom. Without instructional support, this could be overwhelming for learners.
To reduce this effect, I would instead create separate graphics for each researcher and insert an infographic with interactive layers (if digital), such as pop-ups or overlays that walk the learner through each theorist step-by-step without the visual overload.
References
References
Sources:
Instructional Design Tips. (2022, December 6). Instructional Design Basics: Cognitive Load [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jvnKTtmqF0
John Spencer. (2022, November 15). The Surprising Reason Students Tune Out Lectures [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/x1pCaUp0Rtk?si=AGb7S2Xcrf-kLPrT
The Education Hub. (2021, March 3). An introduction to cognitive load theory. The Education Hub. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/an-introduction-to-cognitive-load-theory/
Soloman, H. (n.d.). Cognitive Load Theory (John Sweller). InstructionalDesign.org. https://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/cognitive-load/
AI and Design Tools:
Canva was used to create infographics.
ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) and Gemini (Google, 2025) were used to support revision, grammar correction, content reorganization, clarity in writing, and citations with prompts such as "Please review this for clarity and organization and give me feedback on what I should revise."
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