Learning Is Based on Associations
Cognitive scientists have demonstrated how learning is a process of drawing connections between new informa- tion and what is already known. We learn by taking in, organizing, and storing information, and retrieving it at the appropriate times. For learning to occur, new ideas must be related to old ones. For this reason, prior knowledge is important to the learning process: People make connections and draw conclusions on the basis of what they already know and have experienced. Teachers can influence this process by organizing information and helping learners access their prior knowledge and draw connections to new material. Becoming aware of the central ideas in a subject area, and of how they relate to each other, can also help learners to make sense of information and use it more flexibly.