THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, JUDGEMENTS, & DECISION-MAKING

Cognition

all forms of knowing and awareness, such as perceiving, conceiving, remembering, reasoning, judging, imagining, and problem-solving

Metacognition

• thinking about thinking

• being aware of what we know and don’t know and understanding how you learn best; using that awareness to guide actions

• helps become a more effective and innovative learner

Concept

mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people ex: bird

Prototype

ideal or most typical example of a concept in your mind ex: robin, dog, chair

Schema

mental framework of ideas and expectations that we develop through experiences

• helps us organize knowledge and understanding of new situations quickly

Assimilation

when new information fits into existing schema

Accomodation

when new information doesn’t fit, so you are forced to change/modify your schema

Executive functions

higher level cognitive processes that are processed in the prefrontal cortex.

Trial and Error

process of trying out multiple different possibilities in order to find a solution

Advantages of Trial and Error

allows for discovery, exploration, and you can learn from your mistake

Disadvantages for Trial and Error

can be very time consuming, uses up resources, and success isn’t guaranteed.

Algorithm

well defined procedures or set of rules that is used to solve a problem or accomplish a task; address problems by attempting all possible solutions until the correct one is found

Advantages of Algorithm

results in precise and accurate solutions, ensuring a reliable and consistent outcome

Disadvantages of Algortithm

can be time consuming and complicated

Heuristics

address problems by using mental shortcuts to make judgements, uses rule of thumb or general guidelines as mental shortcuts for problem solving

Advantages of Heuristics

offers quick/easy path to solution

Disadvantages of Heuristics

may not always result in the desired outcome, prone to cognitive bias, can lead to error in judgement

Representativeness Heuristic

mental shortcut that occurs when you make a judgement based on a prototype or a stereotype

Availability Heuristic

estimating the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind

Creativity

ability to produce or develop original work, theories, techniques, or thoughts; diplay originality, imagination, and expressiveness

Divergent Thinking

using strategies that deviate from common things/ideas

Convergent Thinking

linear, logical steps to analyze already formulated solutions to determine the correct or most likely to be successful outcome