Situated Cognition and the Culture of Learning

Abstract

In an earlier paper (Collins, Brown and Newman, in press ), cognitive apprenticeship was proposed as an alternative and richer view of learning than that suggested by didactic education. In this paper, we develop the concept of cognitive apprenticeship beyond that earlier exposition, exploring in particular its relationship to situated cognition and the social construction of knowledge. Using example from successful teaching methods, we discuss some of the central features of good learning environments, noting how these develop robust understanding through extensive use of students' intuitive knowledge and of the social and physical contexts of learning. In conclusion, we indicate the need for more work on the epistemology of situated cognition, which underpins the theory of cognitive apprenticeship, and we indicate some of the potential benefits for education of continued research in this area. Keywords: Education; Teaching; Thinking; Learning.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA204690

Entities

People

  • Allan Collins
  • John S. Brown
  • Paul Duguid

Organizations

  • BBN Technologies

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Apprenticeship
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Science
  • Construction
  • Contrast
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Instructors
  • Language
  • Leaching
  • Mathematics
  • Psychology
  • Schools
  • Students
  • Thinking
  • Training

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • STEM Education
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.
  • Theoretical Analysis.