The concept of Information Processing Theory was developed to focus on how an individual person’s mind works. Initially, it was thought that people’s mind functioned much in the way that computer’s do. It has since been realized, however, that people are unable to function in the systematic manner that a computer would always do. Computers are reliable, you type in a command and you get what it is you requested. However, when human emotions are comingled with the thought process, no two people will learn in the exact same manner in every instance. Therefore, it is important for us to develop a learning pattern based on previous learning attempts.
Another formula for developing learning patterns is to create a script, that is to say acting in a repetitive manner as opposed to thinking in a repetitive manner.
“Part of long-term memory involves storing information about the sequence of events during familiar situations as "scripts". Scripts help children understand, interpret, and predict what will happen in future scenarios. For example, children understand that a visit to the grocery store involves a specific sequences of steps: Dad walks into the store, gets a grocery cart, selects items from the shelves, waits in the check-out line, pays for the groceries, and then loads them into the car. Children ages 2 through 5 also start to recognize that are often multiple ways to solve a problem and can brainstorm different (though sometimes primitive) solutions.” (Oswalt, 2008)
It is imperative, as an educator, to understand the way the mind absorbs and stores information. In order to fully accomplish this task, it is important to study the patterns and behaviors associated with the learning material you are presenting.
“As a teacher you must be able to maximize the amount of information the brain processes, and maintain and encourage normal development of abilities and thought processes.” (Ganly, 2007)
Beyond the initial educating, it is also important that, as an educator, you know how to teach in a manner that the information will be easily retrievable at a later date. As an instructional designer, you have the knowledge and ability to present the information in a design oriented manner. It is imperative that you fully understand the information you are relaying, but also that you have the skills and ability to relay the information in a manner that is easily remembered, and easily retrieved. This idea is discussed in depth by Dr. Jeanne Ormrod, in her instructional video “Information Processing and the Brain.”
“People can remember things for a long time if they have a vivid visual image of it. One of the things that we know from research is that if you get information in two different ways and you store it in two different ways—we use the term encoding, or "to store in different formats"—that if you encode it in two different ways, it tends to be much more memorable than if you only encode it in one way. For example, we know from research with online learning environments that when learners see something and hear something both, they remember it a lot more effectively than if they just saw it or just heard it.” (Ormrod)
References
Ganly, Sarah. (2007, November 6). Associatedcontent.com. Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/432876/the_information_processing_theory_and.html
Oswalt, Angela. (2008, January 16). Mentalhelp.net. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=12760&cn=462
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