This course explores key cognitive processing theories and their profound implications for literacy instruction. Students will examine how the brain acquires, processes, and retains information, with a focus on strategies that enhance reading comprehension, decoding, and retention.
Emphasis will be placed on activating prior knowledge, structuring instruction to manage cognitive load, and implementing explicit reading strategies that align with cognitive development. Students will also explore how Piaget's cognitive development theory, Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, and information processing models inform differentiated instruction in literacy. Topics include chunking information, using visual aids, scaffolding, and collaborative learning techniques to support diverse learners.
Through research, discussion, and applied practice, participants will gain the knowledge needed to design effective, cognitively aligned literacy instruction that fosters reading fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking skills in learners of all ages.