Information Processing Theory and Approach

Do you understand the complicated neural-psychological process that governs what happens when your students (or anyone else) come up with new ideas as well as knowledge? That's the question that the information processing theory seeks to answer. It dives into the intricate process of registering, observing and processing information within our brains and retrieving the information as necessary.

Learn more about this concept, and how you can utilize it in the creation of online classes that will benefit your students. We'll begin with a quick overview of where the concept got started.

Skip ahead:

•       A brief overview of Information Processing Theory
•       Concepts at the heart from Information Processing Theory
•       How does it happen? occur in the brain?
•       Your students must know about the material of your online courses
•       Fundamental methods of information processing to aid students better remember information.
•       The Limits of Information Processing Theory in online learning
•       Strategies to make more effective the application of theories regarding information processing in online education
•       Humanize information processing theory in order to create online courses which are relatable

     Brief history of Information Processing Theory    

Back in the 1950s, scientists realized that computers were an important clue to understand the ways that brains of humans function. George Armitage Miller and Edward C. Tolman established the basic principles of how human beings use short-term memory and acquire knowledge. Basing their work on this foundational structure, two popular models of the theory of information processing eventually arose - the Atkinson and Shiffrin Model and the Baddeley and Hitch Model of Working Memory.

The Atkinson and Shiffrin Model discusses the three stages of information processing that include sensory memory, short-term memory (working memory) as well as long term memory. It concentrates on the importance of attention and complex practice behavior which leads to the storage of information in the long-term memory. Its Baddeley and Hitch Model of Working Memory is a further expansion of these concepts and explains how we process language and spatial patterns.

Are you lost in the language of psychology? Don't worry! We've merged aspects of these theories in order to assist you comprehend how humans handle information. It is possible to begin understanding how that humans process information in everyday situations as well as analysing each step with greater depth.

     The basic concepts of Information Processing Theory    

As an educator of creators It's extremely beneficial for you to understand aspects of information processing.

Try it out with the following example

If you're on a crowded street where you are confronted with a variety of sounds, sights, and scents. People also rub your shoulders whenever you're unfortunate enough to get bumped into large crowds. In order to avoid the rush and chaos, you choose to visit a cafe which you know is peaceful and tranquil. Also, you remember that they offer the most delicious breakfast and coffee within this particular area.

The theory of information processing in action, and in actual life. We'll see:

1. There is a possibility to feel various stimulations (people who are moving about, a person who is touching your shoulder, a vehicle speeding across the street or a car speeding by, etc. - sensation. The term "stimulus" refers to an external stimulus or information)
2. The image appears to be overcrowded (perception is how we perceive the information we sensed).
3. Based on the experiences you have had previously (long memory of a long time) and you're capable of identifying this scenario to be unsafe and uncomfortable (being constantly pushed around, the past associations)
4. Perhaps you recall the place that once offered the comfort you needed (another chain of memory can result in retrieving the information regarding the tranquil cafe as well as its desserts (the symbolic memory).
5. Your memory is what you choose to act upon and walk towards the cafe (judging/analyzing before making the final decision. The trip to the café is the process memory).

First, you sense your environment

Humans can receive information also known as "stimulus" by using the five senses of smell and touch. They also have visual auditory (hearing), and the sense of taste. Sixth sense that is related to body's posture and movement balance known as vestibular sensing exists.

Sensors and their associated organs

• Eyes for Vision
• Audio - Ears
• Touch Skin
• Taste - Tongue
• Aroma - Nose
• Vestibular sense, ear and various parts that comprise the nerve system.

The organs of your senses within the body translate information from real life into electrical data, which the brain process them and interprets them into data that can be recognized in a conscious way. What you observe occurs because of previous associations (similar data stored in your mind, which is able to remember and make connections).

Note to Creators Note: Unless you're using augmented reality or virtual reality within your lesson content the majority of your lessons will be based on inputs (stimuli) that are connected to sight (reading texts and watching videos) in addition to music (voice or background music).

     The process of perception results from being able to sense.

The organs of the senses respond to different stimuli that are present in the external environment and converts these signals into electrical signals which are then sensed by various regions within the brain. Sensory processes occur in the sensory organs and perception takes place in the brain. Individuals with different perception and learning disorders may find it difficult to grasp information in a short time.

Authors For authors: If you're planning to make the content of your class accessible to students with disabilities You may want to think about accessible design methods. Some examples of accessible design are to avoid gaps between words that are not even and paragraphs, splitting long ones into shorter paragraphs, and ensuring enough white space.

The information that is being perceived is processed (encoded) the information gets transferred into memory.

Memory is an umbrella word which covers many aspects of cognition. It begins with retaining information for a brief period (sensory or working memory) before it is transferred to long-term storage through consolidation (encoding).

Sensory memory lasts anywhere from a fraction of a second up to three seconds. If you don't pay attention to the feeling, it won't be converted in short-term memory. Research has proven that short-term memory can store approximately seven pieces of information that last from fifteen to thirty seconds. Through practice, your brain will be able to retain the information until it is degraded or is lost.

As you work the skill, your brain goes through an operation known as Encoding. The process triggers data to be transferred into long-term memory. Once it's transferred to long-term memory and it is possible to retrieve the information at any time provided that you do not let it be subject to degradation or disruption. Memory that is long-term can vary from remembering what you observed in the past just a few minutes, to things that happened many years ago -- that go into the time of your childhood.

The idea behind rehearsing could be seen as a way to aid in the process of learning through repetition in the context of education. However, we are aware that the majority of students have difficulty mastering the process of rote learning. It is not such a great method to grasp complex concepts and abstract knowledge.

The different types of long-term memory include:

1. The term "explicit memory" refers to that which is available to you in conscious. If you're being asked by someone to name is the capital city of Great Britain is, you are able to say it's London. This is why explicit memories could be called declarative memories. Declarative memory can further be divided into:

• A sporadic memory The memory of certain events or specific occasions that took place in your lifetime, for example visiting the house of a family member when you were a young child
• Memory that's semantic The ability to keep in memory things you've learned about the globe like when you heard about you officially declared World War 2 (September 1 September 1939).

1. Implicit memory is stored in your mind for the long term and also has a connection to your performance and movements. For instance, being able to swim or remembering to drive your car after long gaps and on.

 Attention makes memory last longer and helps you learn faster

Although our sense organs can take in a lot of information, however, they do not get into our brains until you are attentive to the data. The information is stored in "sensory memory," upon perception. They last just a few seconds (between 1/2 second to three seconds).

Concentrating here is paying attention to a specific stimulus when there is no another stimulus. An example is when you go to a café that you enjoy and choose to purchase the type of croissant you prefer, despite the presence of several other options on the menu.

If you recall the incident on the bustling street you may recognize that there were a lot of people. You may, however, not have been paying enough attention to be able to recognize their faces. In the end, the data related to their particular faces decayed, and then is gone forever.

     What happens to this? take place inside the mind?    

When you are an educator and create, it is possible to be curious about how the learning material that you provide to your students will be being handled in their minds. Baddeley as well as the Hitch Model of Working Memory offers a clear solution to this.

The frontal region (a part of the brain) within the brain) is the main central processing area where information is stored and later retrieved. There are a variety of memories stored in various regions of the brain. According to Hitch and Baddeley:

• Information on the auditory system (information that is in the form of sound, typically referred to as language, music, or other varieties of sound) is stored in the auditory loop.
• Phonological loop consists of the phonological storage, in which information is stored for a short duration, and the articulatory rehearsal process is when the brain rehearses auditory data to be saved over a longer duration.
• Visuospatial sketchpad is a part of the brain which stores images and spatial information including patterns, shapes, images, etc.
• The episodic buffer could enhance the capability of the mind to encode, store and retrieve data by linking diverse brain regions to aid in the processing of information.

Let's apply lessons learned from the area of information processing to learning online environments.

     Make your students focus on the content of the online classes you offer    

When you are designing or making modules, you should think in this manner. If you don't create the slides or videos appealing enough, the learners will simply ignore them and proceed onto the next. The students take a look at the slideshow (sensation occurs) but they do not take in it for the length of time needed to retain the information in their short-term memory. Let them practice the skill to be stored in long-term memory - the content is removed out of their sensory memory. Therefore, keeping their attention is what's most crucial.

It is important to consider possible scenarios where your child might be distracted, daydreaming or ignoring your teaching material. This can impact the ability of your students to concentrate on the information that is required to be taken in and stored in a long-term memory. Thus, ensuring that your materials are designed to keep your students' attention is essential.

 What is HTML0:

• Instruct them to take a break each ten or fifteen minutes. Studies show human attention diminishes after fifteen minutes.
• So, plan your lessons in chunks that are 15 minutes or less. It is not necessary to produce tutorials or create videos with a time limit of ten minutes. Instead, offer your students small activities, games, or chillout sessions.
• Create more interactive online learning environments for learning. This will be explained in the near future.

     Basic methods of information processing to aid your students remember better.    

If information is stored in short-term memory and is not accessed, it could be transferred to long-term memory or erased. Repeating and practicing is crucial to storing information for a long time in long-term memory. This is why it's crucial to create plan of instruction so students will have ample time to work on their skills and go over the material that has been kept in their memory. This process must take place within a matter of minutes. So, at the conclusion of every lesson, which takes only a few minutes to complete, encourage your students to repeat, practice, or rehearse. This helps to ensure that the information that they've absorbed is stored as long-term memories.

In the event that something is encapsulated in your long-term mental memory in your brain, it will be available at the point of prompting. Retrieving memories successfully is contingent on the level of passion with which the student was taught the material (were you attentive enough? was your course material interesting enough and so on. ).

As you can see from this description that learning happens because of our perception of information, and how we associate it with our previous knowledge, and that we must be attentive.

But is it really all that easy?

     The Limits of Information Processing Theory in online learning    

Human beings aren't computerized systems. While drawing parallels between human brains and computers is appealing, yet, the two are very distinct. Information Processing Theory doesn't discuss the significance of motivational factors or emotions in how we view the world, or retain the information we've learned. Both are essential for learning and remembering what's been learned.

Brains operate in a linear wayinformation is detected as well as stored. It is then processed (encoded) then stored and finally, retrieved. It is also known as serial processing. This is the function computers perform.

However, the brain can function simultaneously, meaning you can concurrently process various types of information. Multitasking capabilities of the brain may not reflect what computers are able to accomplish. So, even though theories of information processing accurately describe how we feel and process and retain information however, it fails to consider emotions or the non-linear nature of the way our minds function.

Students have emotions along with desires, as well as motives that you could be ignoring in the course you created. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that you're providing instruction to human learners, not computers. One of the easiest ways to resolve this issue is to design educational environments online that are stimulating.

Let's examine the ways you can incorporate emotion, motivation as well as social interaction to the table. You can also leverage information processing theory even more to make that perfect online course.

     Strategies to make more effective use of the theory behind information processing in order to enhance online learning    

Engage your students to be attentive

What's the benefit of learning something if they aren't interested in it? It is essential that they are motivated or driven to sign up for the class and stay motivated to complete.

Motivation drives students to be aware of the content that can improve data processing (encoding) and better capabilities for retrieving information. Also, if your student isn't motivated to do their homework a challenging course, the best courses won't be registered for them in their mind.

Motivation is a key factor when it comes to processing information, as well. It is crucial to respond appropriately to external stimuli.

• Your job as a teacher of creativity is to sustain this drive.
• Remember that motivation is have to be found in an empty space. It's important to feel valued as in addition to receive constructive comments and to be recognized by your peers to inspire you to do something. Do you remember your friends encouraging you in times when you were struggling or wanting to get better at some thing? It's the same for the process of learning too.

Motivation and interpersonal relationships are interconnected. This article will examine how this can be reflected in the concept of social Information Processing Theory.

Encourage social interaction during learning

While one-to-one instruction is highly effective however, students learn more effectively when they are working in groups. So, learning in traditional classrooms always is done in groups or classrooms because learning with others is much more entertaining (and much more efficient).

Social Information Processing theory is a part of the explanation for how humans communicate with each with each other through computers like an online platform for learning.

Humans also learn from examples and by observation. That means, imitating how other people act. In the case of educators, your responsibility as an educator is to assume the position of a teacher and students imitate your behavior. Albert Bandura, a famous psychologist, emphasized that learning usually takes place within social contexts and we can't cut out "social" in our learning.

This is why it is important to keep this in mind. It is crucial to

• Create online group activities
• Students should be encouraged to connect with their peers on online platforms and share their knowledge.
• Create collaboration and social media engagement essential parts of the course's structure.
• Utilize social media tools to exchange ideas. They are able to be used to practice
• Give constructive feedback to your fellow classmates (other students) to provide reinforcement. To do this, ask your students to evaluate their efforts positively.

 Make use of goal-specific cognitive strategies

They tend to be focused to a certain assignment. That means that you have to help your pupils learn the material in a direct method. The cognitive strategies which you could employ in online education do not involve making notes, rehearsing and contextual understanding and mnemonics. (A memory mnemonic can be described as a method that allows you to recall or access information stored in your memory)

As an example, VIBGYOR can be an abbreviation that describes the seven rainbow colors that include violet, green, indigo blue, yellow, red and orange. Other than acronyms, other kinds of mnemonics too including flashcards and categorizing objects in distinct categories., can all help students recall what they've learnt in a short time.

 Allows high-level processing information through techniques of metacognition

Researchers have also proposed the existence of something referred to as "metacognition," which means "thinking about the thought process." Practice as you practice and attempt to remember the mistakes you make, or use methods to help others be able to learn or recall (such as teaching using a goal) This is metacognition in a way.

In 1987, A.L. Brown started a discussion on the concept of metacognition in learning. In the course of time this topic has grown.

For online courses, these are some of the top metacognitive strategies

• Pre-planned organizers: Ask your students to consider your lesson plan through the sharing of calendars ahead of time. This will help your students know what is expected as well as connect it with the information they are already familiar with.
• Self-planning: Encourage your students to create plans for their work, as well as the way they'll organize their work. It gives them time to "think about the things they're doing" - metacognition.
• Self-monitoring scales that allow students to self-rate their scores can be a great way to understand which areas of your students require help. Create online forms that help students to track their progress after each session or week, according to the timetable you like.
• Self-evaluation: This could be periodically or at the completion of the class. Since online courses are typically taken by students who have a self-motivation, it is crucial that students be able to see their results.

In addition to self-evaluation, you can also use associations to help students retain what they learn. In order to make this method more effective, you must know what the students learned. So,

• Before enlisting someone for the program, it is important to assess the level of their expertise to figure out whether they're a suitable candidate to take the class.
• If not already, before you begin your course for beginners, ensure you have developed your content so that learners will be able to relate the course to what they are already familiar with. That means you need to help in the encoding process.

It is possible to employ methods like images, chunking or elaborate.

• Divide your lessons into smaller parts with engaging questions, online discussions and even online contests. Additionally, use questions and answers, and peer support to keep students engaged.
• Help your students form associations to their prior knowledge through providing the information in a way that is easy to visualize. It will allow students to utilize pictures to learn and retain.
• Additionally, the online course is required to encourage the students to take the course actively. This process, also known as elaboration, is crucial for students to be engaged and create associations with existing skills to acquire new knowledge.

Though they all involve cognitive and metacognitive techniques, they cannot be ignored the role of emotions, motivation, and theories about social learning.

 Include social interaction and emotions to this mix

A majority of your students are in your class as they're unable to physically attend classes for different reasons. Learning online is the alternative to traditional learning and provide greater engagement in most cases. However, it is essential to keep your online learning experience vibrant and engaging. It is essential to employ techniques that require emotional communication as well as interpersonal interaction. Be aware that "affect" means feelings.

This is how to do this:

• Be relatable for your students and help them learn by acting as a model. Inspire feelings of curiosity and excitement. You can also create feelings of satisfaction with joy, happiness, anticipation, delight. It's easy to incite those feelings among your students.
• Gamification is a great way to help students feel happy and satisfied after they have completed some levels of satisfaction.
• Giving badges, certificates or any other positive reinforcement is a great way of bringing joy into your life.
• If you give the opportunity to discount a well-performing student it is a way to combine excitement and delight. This makes students more eager to do their best.
• Polling could be used for making games and tests every 15 minutes, which will make sure that students are involved and allow them to discuss their learning in forums.
• As children become more at ease with social media, it makes sense to include social media in the classroom as well.

     Humanize theory of information processing to create online courses using human-like characteristics    

The concept of information processing could help us to understand the way we process and store new information within our brains, by using our sense organs as well as the brain. Although this model is accurate in terms of how sensation and perception and memory work however, it does not explain social learning and the functions of emotions or motivation.

Furthermore, the human brain is extremely complex and is not able to be reduced to the way a computers work. For instructors, it is crucial to keep students' natural thoughts and desires within their heads. In creating an interactive online learning experience, and taking into consideration human limitations You can design a course online that is effective and leaves an lasting impression on the students.

It offers a wide range of tools to create course content which is social and engaging. It allows you to design courses based on the models for information processing yet recognizes the fact that students are thought and affixed human beings who want to connect with each other while they learn. It offers powerful social engagement features, which make it easy to develop group learning modules and encourage engaging discussions between your students.

Humanizing online learning lets you connect with your students intellectually and in a way that is engaging. To learn more about how it can help you design classes that draw on the field of psychology We invite you to contact us at any time.

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