As a teacher, it is important to understand how our brains process new information and build upon prior knowledge. This concept is rooted in psychological theory called “schemas,” which refers to our existing mental frameworks or organized patterns of thought that help us process, interpret, and recall information quickly and efficiently.
Teaching students about schemas psychology can help them identify their own thought patterns and learn how to build upon pre-existing knowledge to make connections between new and old information. This enables students to learn more effectively and retain information for longer periods of time.
Here are some approaches to teaching students about schemas psychology:
- Introduction to Schemas
Start with the basics – introduce the concept of schemas as mental frameworks the brain uses to organize and categorize information, which makes it easier to process and retrieve. Encourage students to think about their own schema as individuals, and how they categorize their own experiences.
- Examples and Applications
Provide examples of schemas in action in our everyday lives – how students categorize objects, experiences, and people. Then, illustrate how schemas are used to sort and store new information within these pre-existing mental frameworks.
- The Formation of Schemas
Help students understand how schemas are formed over time. Explain how new information is constantly being added to existing schemas and that this allows individuals to build upon prior knowledge and learn more effectively.
- Schemas in Learning
Encourage students to think about their own learning experiences and how schemas help them understand and remember information. Have them consider how their schema influence the way they process and interpret new material.
- Building Schemas
Finally, help students understand how to build upon existing schemas. Now that they understand what schemas are and how they function, analyze how they can deliberately incorporate new knowledge into their schema for future application and recall.
Teaching students about schemas psychology is a powerful tool for student achievement. By understanding how prior knowledge impacts the way we learn, students can build better, more effective mental frameworks for future information retention. By introducing students to this important concept, educators can help their students’ minds become more flexible, creative, and receptive to new ideas.
