Cognitive Learning: Examples, Benefits, and Tips for Success

Cognitive learning is one of the best ways folks can seek out and learn new information. It’s a tried-and-true active style of learning leveraged by students and professionals alike.

In our overview guide, we’ll tell you everything you should know about this learning style, including what it is, how it works, examples, benefits, and strategies you can use to your advantage.

What Is Cognitive Learning?

Cognitive learning is a style of learning that hones in on how you can use your brain most effectively and reach its full potential. This style can make it easier for you to learn new things because you’re connecting new information with existing concepts. 

It’s also very learner-focused where other methods are more instructor-centered. Folks take on a much more active role when they’re engaged in the learning process. Plus, with this style of learning, students are assessed and evaluated by how they’re able to apply the knowledge.  

Cognitive learning theorists

This style of learning has roots in ancient philosophy, so there are many cognitive learning theorists. Some of the most noteworthy cognitive learning theorists include early philosophers like Plato and Descartes, as well as names like Jerome Bruner, Jean Piaget, William James, and John Dewey. 

The overall theory has changed a bit over the years as philosophers and researchers alike draw new conclusions.

Cognitive learning vs. traditional learning

Whereas traditional learning places a lot of emphasis on pure memorization and passive learning, cognitive learning hones in on active engagement, which includes problem-solving and critical thinking to fully understand. Traditional learning is also more teacher-centered, meaning students look to their teacher as the ultimate source of knowledge. With cognitive learning, it’s more student-centered, so learners play a more active role in their education. 

Aspects of cognitive learning

There are specific elements that you’ll notice when exploring this type. For example, some of the most important components of this style of learning include:

• Memory, since this style of learning encourages a deeper understanding as opposed to just memorization or “cramming” 
• Comprehension, specifically an understanding of why you’re learning the information 
• Application, in terms of how you can go on to apply the newly learned information 

All three components make up this active style. 

Types of Cognitive Learning Theories

There are essentially two main types of cognitive learning theories: social cognitive theory and cognitive behavioral theory. Both explore the way people attain, process, and retain information but have some key differences. 

Social cognitive theory

With social cognitive theory, we can take a closer look at how folks are influenced and how they can affect the environment around them. In essence, social cognitive theory suggests people learn by watching and imitating those around them (in addition to their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences). 

The implications of social cognitive theory show how important factors like your environment and self-efficacy are in shaping knowledge acquistion. That’s why observation is such a huge component of social cognitive theory.

Cognitive behavioral theory

There’s also cognitive behavioral theory, which emphasizes the importance of our mental processes and how they affect each other. For example, cognitive behavioral theory shows how interconnected someone’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors are and how they then affect each other.

With cognitive behavioral theory, folks can really hone in on any negative thought patterns to swap them for positive thoughts, which in turn can positively affect behavioral and emotional responses. 

Examples of Cognitive Learning

Cognitive learning is a style that encompasses a lot of different types of learning, from explicit to experiential learning. Here are a few examples of cognitive learning, including how you can leverage it at school, work, or simply in everyday life.

Explicit learning

In contrast to implicit learning, explicit learning is an active way to learn new information where you’re intentionally seeking out knowledge. For example, you could be completing a worksheet or listening to a professor speak on a topic while taking notes. Explicit learning can take many forms, and it’s a great example of cognitive learning because of how active it is.

Discovery and experiential learning

Experiential learning — also used interchangeably with discovery learning — is another good example of cognitive learning and what it can look like. This type of learning places an emphasis on students learning through doing. For example, teachers who use discovery learning might encourage students to gain a deeper understanding of subjects through projects, classroom assignments, play, or exploration. 

This helps learners draw conclusions on their own as they actively learn and problem-solve. 

Cognitive learning in education 

Cognitive learning in education has been a game-changer compared to traditional learning methods. Students can take charge of their own learning by taking on a more active role (as opposed to traditional learning where the class is teacher-centric). 

Examples of cognitive learning — especially experiential learning — are often leveraged for all ages because of how useful it is. While a first-grade teacher might encourage their 6-year-olds to play games to better understand concepts, a university biology professor might assign students experiments in class.

Using cognitive learning in everyday life

Although cognitive learning in education might be more commonly recognized, you can use this style of learning in your everyday life in a number of ways. For example, if you’ve ever wanted to learn a new skill outside of work or school, this active style of learning can be revolutionary. Whether you want to learn a new language or learn how to play an instrument, it can make a noticeable difference.

Not only that, but you can use it in simpler ways too, like remembering a new friend’s name. Whatever you’d like to learn in your everyday life, cognitive learning theory can inform the way you pick up new information. 

Cognitive learning examples at work

Not surprisingly, there are tons of ways you can use cognitive learning at work, no matter the industry. This style of learning can help employers improve the effectiveness of onboarding, training, and development, for example.

Managers can also lean on this type of learning to influence employee performance management or to pick up and enhance their leadership skills. The possibilities for learning are endless.

How Yoodli Can Encourage Cognitive Learning

If you’re looking to practice cognitive learning or experiment with this style of learning, using a tool like Yoodli can help. Yoodli is an AI communication coach that leverages realistic roleplays for all kinds of practice. Whether you’re a high school student or an experienced sales rep, you can use this AI-powered tool to improve cognitive learning outcomes. 

No matter what you’d like to practice, Yoodli can offer a safe space for folks to experiment with newly learned skills. For example, for folks in the sales industry, Yoodli’s realistic sales roleplays and AI-powered coaching can unearth areas for improvement for reps, complete with actionable feedback. Reps can try out new methodologies in popular sales environments, such as cold calls or customer discovery calls, and Yoodli evaluates their performance.

For admin and other sales enablement leaders, Yoodli also offers customization capabilities so brands can make Yoodil their own based on their organization’s specific methodology. Plus, this AI coach has enterprise-grade privacy with SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and more.

In fact, Google Cloud’s recent case study results show how Yoodli helped train and certify over 15,000 sales reps to get them on the same page. It was such a success that Google extended its use of Yoodli to other programs, too.

Find out how you can practice cognitive learning strategies with Yoodli for free at https://yoodli.ai/.

Benefits of Cognitive Learning 

There are tons of benefits of cognitive learning, from improved memory retention to better critical thinking skills and engagement. Here are some of the most notable benefits of this style of learning that make it well worth exploring. 

Better memory retention 

It might not surprise you to know that cognitive learning aids memory retention. Learners who use this style have a better ability to remember and recall knowledge. Not just that, but they also show signs of enhanced long-term retention, too. 

Enhanced critical thinking skills

Cognitive learning can also boost your critical thinking skills. Students have a greater understanding of learned concepts, even complicated subjects, when they take an active role in learning. This allows them to actually apply the things they learn to new situations (as opposed to simply memorizing new information). 

As a result, learners can make better decisions, analyze information easier, and show enhanced problem-solving skills. 

Improved engagement among learners

Because cognitive learning is such an active style, one of the best benefits is the improved engagement among learners. Students who use this style show more enthusiasm, interest, and motivation for learning new things. 

This is in part why it’s linked to enhanced professional and academic success among people who use this style. That can translate to better job performance, more career opportunities for employees, and higher test scores among traditional students. 

Fosters lifelong learning

Similarly, it helps students foster a lifelong love of learning and the drive to continue seeking out new knowledge and information. It encourages folks to continue learning no matter where they are in life, from their schooling to their career. 

5 Strategies for Cognitive Learning

There’s an endless amount of strategies people lean into to improve outcomes when it comes to this style of learning. Here are five specific strategies for cognitive learning you can try to see what works best for you.

1. Mnemonic devices

One of the most common strategies for cognitive learning is mnemonic devices. These can be a helpful way to remember new information. Mnemonic devices work by linking new information with your existing knowledge. There are tons of different types of mnemonic devices, like simple rhymes, acronyms, or even visualization methods.  

For example, mnemonic devices you might recognize include:

• The fictitious name “Roy G. Biv” to help kids remember the colors of the rainbow (e.g., red, orange, yellow, green, etc.)
• “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally” for the order of operations when doing math (e.g., parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction)
• “My very educated mother just served us nachos” to remember the order of the planets (e.g., Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)

2. Interleaving

Although it doesn’t always work for everyone, interleaving is a popular study strategy. Students will purposely mix up the information they’re learning to stave off boredom while also enhancing their understanding of the topics. 

For example, in a study hall, students could review algebra, German, and biology all within the same session to keep things interesting. 

3. Chunking

Another great strategy for cognitive learning is chunking, which involves breaking new info down into smaller components so they’re easier to remember. Mnemonic devices can be considered an example of chunking since they often condense lots of information into smaller words or phrases that can be easily recalled. 

4. Spaced repetition

With spaced repetition, the idea is to go over information at specific intervals to improve your long-term memory and retention. When you review information at these spaced intervals, it can improve cognitive learning efforts, too. 

For example, using flashcards to go over vocabulary when learning a new language is a good example of spaced repetition. 

5. Elaborative rehearsal

Elaborative rehearsal also emphasizes the usefulness of pairing new information with existing knowledge to harbor a better understanding. Learners can link concepts they’ve just learned to their own personal experiences or mental images, for example. 

So, if you meet a new person named River, associating them with a flowing river of water can help you remember it because you’ve made the connection in your mind.  

The Main Takeaway 

Cognitive learning is one of the best ways to learn and retain new information, no matter if you’re a student, a sales rep, or someone else entirely. Knowing how to leverage this active style of learning is well worth it, and Yoodli can help you continue to use and retain that information with AI-powered roleplay and feedback. 

Sources

• Wichita State University: “Cognitive Learning Theory.”
• Valamis: “Cognitive Learning.”
• Indeed: “What Is Cognitive Learning Theory?”