Essay On Cognitive Structures

In the classroom, there is a wide range of learners because every student has unique qualities and needs. Some students are able to quickly master any problem given to them, while other students seem to struggle with basic or grade level problems. When students struggle, they have a tendency to give up or exhibit behavioral problems. Why do some students struggle while others learn with ease? What strategies are available to help struggling students? The resolution to these questions is found in the study of cognitive development. Cognitive structures are embedded within the study of cognitive development. Cognitive structures are defined as, “the basic mental processes people use to make sense of information.” (Garner, 2007) Cognitive structures can ,also, be known as mental structures, mental tools, and patterns of thought. There are three distinct functions to cognitive structures, which are comparative thinking structures,

Students who receive effective intervention at home are often labeled as the “smart” kids. When students become reflectively aware and able to visually process information starting at a young age, they usually have well developed cognitive structures and are well prepared for their education. On the contrary, the students who have not had a lot of reflective awareness and able to visually process information during their early development might have under-developed cognitive structures and could be labeled a “slow” learner. Circumstances can affect cognitive structures. A few circumstances that could hinder cognitive structures are “living in poverty with not a lot of resources, trauma or abuse, learning is devalued at home, and limited verbal interaction.” (Garner,