Human Cognitive Abilities and How They Can Help People to Learn Computer Systems - Coursework Example

Topic: Knowledge of Human Cognitive Abilities and How it Can Help People to Learn Computer Systems. It is sure that many individuals have come across the word cognition and cognitive abilities often during their academic life. However, what it is the use of these abilities in our daily life is indeed a question to be pondered on .If put in simple words, cognition is how a person think and react in the practical world . And cognitive abilities are the processing skills of a brain to carry on a particular task. As Per (Michelone) “Cog­ni­tive abil­i­ties are the brain-based skills we need to carry out any task from the sim­plest to the most com­plex. They have more to do with the mech­a­nisms of how we learn, remem­ber, problem-solve, and pay atten­tion rather than with any actual knowl­edge”. Generally speaking, cognitive abilities are the mechanism by which our brain operates to accomplish different tasks of our daily life. An in- depth study of cognitive skill greatly help a person to improve his learning capacity and task performing ability. Any learning or activity task can be segregated according to cognitive functioning and process can be made simpler and convenient accordingly. Everyone today knows that our world is operating extensively with the support of computers .And obviously, learning and performing computers tasks requires ample amount of cognitive abilities and skills. So, if a person could enhance his cognitive abilities he can very well upgrade his level of understanding about the working system of computers. It not only essential for him to perceive thing systematically but also should be able to clearly differentiate every functions to make the learning process easy and less complicated. Learning computer is not a very easy task; it needs extensive use of memory, logic and cognitive skills. In computer learning there are different stages in which the learner pass through to achieve successful learning. Mainly the basics of computer learning may not require intense cognitive skills or capabilities. But as one cross the basic level and enters in to more complex learning session, the knowledge of cognitive skills becomes necessary and helpful. In advanced level of computer learning, like software development and data processing, high scale of information processing skills and decision making ability is required. According to (Singley,24) “When students are gives tasks beyond their skill level, the variability among students decreases. The better students are able to span the gap; the worst students are not”. Learning of programming and applying reasoning ability in the decision making process requires a great deal of memory, logic and brain processing. If a learner has knowledge about his cognitive abilities and have deeper understanding about the way in which brain operates, then he can learn things faster and easier. Decision making skill and problem solving skills are important in computer learning and if a learner understands his cognitive abilities he can gain much confidence in his learning process. Most Psychological theories consider that cognitive skills are multi faceted and are correlated with other abilities of an individual. It is usually seen that some people understand, grasp and solve things more quickly, while others require more time and energy. The understanding of personal cognitive ability is very essential for a person to develop his ability in learning process of computer systems. One should understand how the brain perceive things, process information and store information in short term and long term memory. The stability, diversity and growth of our personal mental processing and use and transformation of our external and internal information to think, learn and communicate are highly related. If we understand well the mental processing and brain mechanism then the learning of computer systems can be made simpler and less time consuming. It is very essential to understand the cognitive abilities of various students in understanding the mathematical logic and other concepts, to help them upgrade their degree of learning skill. If one individual understands his individual processing and brain functioning with related to the computer system learning, then he can segregate his learning process accordingly to make things better. The computer system learning process structured in align with cognitive process of individuals can invariable increase the learning capacity of people. (Gernsbacher, 54)writes that , “In fact cognitive psychology has been successfully applied to the design technology in variety of domains .The field of cognitive science helps to promote cross disciplinary integration of concepts , methods , language , data, and infrastructures for research and education on cognition”. It is found that students with higher spatial visualization abilities basically excel in subjects like science and math. This is mainly because they are inherited with better cognitive ability and brain processing mechanism. There are lot of brain functioning involved in computer system learning like, eye and hand co- ordination, perception, multi-tasking , mathematical logics and so on. Some people are genetically better at processing words and pictures, while some take more time and energy fro the same. But if a student realizes that he is inferior in certain skill then he can enhance it by certain practices and tests. Generally, some people are verbal learners and some are visual learners and if computer learning system is structured according to the cognitive ability of the user then things can be better and comprehensive. “Cognitive ability refers to things that people are capable of doing, cognitive style refers to the ways that people process and represent information, and learning preferences refer to the ways that people like information to be presented to them” (Mayer,833-846). The cognitive ability of a person can be improved if a person really understands what really his current measure of cognitive ability is. He them can access to computer learning system which is in parallel with his cognitive skill level. Enhancing intellectual ability and reasoning skill is very essential to process different functioning of computer programs and data base operations. Computer programming like multi –media learning, software programming, and data base application requires lot of intellectual abilities, multi- tasking and high level cognitive performance. Today computer system learning is an integral part of any education system and right understanding of cognitive abilities and performance level can boost up the learning process of computer learners effectively. References Gernsbacher, Morton. Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science . 1sted.,. U.S.A.: Routledge., 1998. 54. Print. Michelon, Pascale. "What are cognitive-abilities." www.sharpbrains.com. Sharp Brains, 18-12-2006. Web. 15 Mar 2011. . Mayer, Richard. "Three Facets of Visual and Verbal Learners: Cognitive Ability,." Journal of Educational Psychology . 95.4 (2003): 833-846. Print Singley, Mark. The transfer of cognitive skill . 1st ed.,. Harvard: Harvard University Press, 1989. 25. Print Read More