 Information Processing Theory (by Atkinson and Shiffrin)

 Discovery Learning Theory (by Jerome Bruner)

Information Processing Theory by Atkinson and Shiffrin

3 Process of Information Processing

Encoding - Processing incoming information so it can be entered into memory

Explanation: When information comes into your sensory memory, it needs to be changed into a form
that can be stored so there are three main ways in which information can be encoded/changed.
1. Visual (Picture)
Example: When you memorize a script in a photocopy. In order to remember you used to think about
the photocopy in order for you to retrieve the script you’ve been memorizing.
2. Acoustic (Sound)
Example: When you are memorizing a phone number. In order for you to retrieve it you used to speak
out those number by repeating.
3. Semantic (Meaning)
Example: It is about your prior knowledge. If you have already an experienced about a certain topic then
you already have an idea about it so you just add new information/meaning that you have been
gathered.

Storage - Storage is the retention of information over time. This second stage of the memory process
creates a permanent record of the encoded information.
Explanation: Storage is when you received an information and then used it when needed, but it depends
on how long the words you have been stored.

Retrieval - Retrieval is the process of recalling stored information from memory.

Explanation: When you recall something you have been stored. Sometimes when you have not stored
the information well, there is a possibility you might not remember it.

Memory Storage
Sensory Memory - Sensory memory is the first level of memorizing.
Explanation: To understand which role sensory memory plays in the whole process of memorizing, you
should see the whole picture. Let’s describe this process in steps.

Step 1: You receive information from the environment.

Step 2: This information temporarily stores in sensory memory.
Step 3: It transfers to a short-term memory.
Step 4: Information transfers to a long-term memory.

Short Term Memory - Most of the information that gets into sensory memory is forgotten, but
information that we turn our attention to, with the goal of remembering it, may pass into short-term
memory. Short-term memory (STM) is the place where small amounts of information can be temporarily
kept for more than a few seconds but usually for less than one minute.

Short term memory has three key aspects:

1. limited capacity (only about 7 items can be stored at a time)
2. limited duration (storage is very fragile and information can be lost with distraction or passage of
time)
3. encoding (primarily acoustic, even translating visual information into sounds).

Long Term Memory - Is anything you remember that happened more than a few minutes ago. Long-
term memories can last for just a few days, or for many years.
Example: Try to recall the previous 3 minutes of your life, you can probably speak about it in great detail,
where you where? what happen, what you felt, and also try to recall what happen to you last week. You
might be able to remember certain things such as waking up or going to work/school but you are likely
not able to recall everything that went on during the previous week but those things that you were able
to remember about last week are stored in long term memory because long term memory is where we
store memories for long period of time.

Discovery Learning Theory by Jerome Bruner

Bruner referred to these three systems of processing as enactive, iconic, and symbolic, and defined
them as follows:

Enactive representation – Sometimes called the concrete stage, this first stage involves a tangible
hands-on method of learning. Bruner believed that "learning begins with an action" - touching, feeling,
and manipulating.
Example: The baby might remember the action of shaking a rattle.

Iconic representation – This is where information stored visually in the forms of images.
Example: When we learning a new subject it is often helpful to have diagrams or illustrations when
explaining a topic.

Symbolic representation –This is where information is stored in the form of a code or symbol.

The Spiral Curriculum

• The student revisits a topic, theme or subject several times throughout their school career.
• The complexity of the topic or theme increases with each revisit.
• New learning has a relationship with old learning and is put in context with the old information.