Cognitivism

Cognitive approach to learning is to have the information presented to the learner by scaffolding, in chunks, so that learner can make sense of and process the information in the mind. Learning takes place in the mind of a learner and us driven by the learner.  The learner takes in the information and uses it to process with the previous knowledge and make sense of it. An example of a cognitive approach to learning is to have a series of activities leading to learn a concept. For example, teaching a group of adult learners in a beginning algebra class in a community college. To teach the rules of exponents, we can use the method of inductive reasoning by giving them a series of examples and activities and the teacher can help the learner deduce the rules by themselves and have them do more examples to reinforce it.

It is quite different from behaviorists approach as the behaviorist method focuses on the external environment. Less importance or focus is given to the learner. If the lesson on exponents were taught by a behaviorist approach, the rule will be explained first and showed an example, and the students will follow the same routines and process to practice similar type of problems, I this the end result may be both same in many of the learners. but the way it is being taught is what is different. I think some people will get a better understanding of the rules of exponents even under the behaviorist approach , but the chances of retaining the information and applying it will be much better in the cognitive approach than the behaviorists.