The Cognitive Flexibility Theory relies upon the idea that learners must not only be able to manipulate the means by which knowledge and content are being represented, but also the processes that are in charge of operating those representations. Most of us have been feeling the increased pressure of juggling more and more responsibilities. 9:27 am. The use of multiple perspectives in educational programs is an example. The Cognitive Flexibility Theory. Below are several concepts regarding knowledge that the researchers touched upon in their study. Cognitive flexibility is required in multiple ways throughout the school day. It is prevalent amongst cognitive therapists because it shows a willingness to dominate cognition. We tend to shape them to match info we already know and therefore miss out on the really valuable part of learning. Goals or Resolutions: What is Your Leverage. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt your way of thinking to fit the problem at hand. In the classroom, cognitive flexibility is also important for children too as it helps them to concentrate and retain the information they receive. To think flexibly, you must be able to draw from multiple reserves of knowledge and memory. Cognitive flexibility is usually described as one of the executive functions. Students are constantly switching gears, moving from science to English, to recess, and so on throughout the day. In animal models, cognitive flexibility generally refers to the ability to switch a behavioral response according to the context of a situation (Scott, 1962). Essentially, it … This refers to having a way to consider all kinds of ideas and various possibilities in an open-minded, curious way. Being cognitive flexible allows you to analyze a situation and come up with... Increases your likelihood to succeed. Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to shift attention between task sets, attributes of a stimulus, responses, perspectives, or strategies (Miyake et al., 2000; Zelazo, 2015). It is not to be confused with ‘multi-tasking’ which is a myth; as the brain is not capable of carrying out multiple tasks simultaneously. Accordingly, increasing attention has been devoted to understanding the factors, including genetic and early life experiences, which might contribute to individual differences in this ability. Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts or to think about multiple concepts simultaneously. A high degree of cognitive flexibility is associated with increased fluid intelligence, superior reading and comprehension, as well as a healthier brain. Kids use flexible thinking both for learning to read and for reading to learn. If you have cognitive flexibility, you’ll be energized by change, adapting quickly and readily to the unknown. You need an ability to reach deeply into the past and not just draw your immediate reserves; which requires a very good declarative memory. Although the literature supports the assessment of flexibility through card sorting tests and verbal fluency tests (e.g. This ability to quickly adapt to new situations increases one’s brain function and resilience to stress. Here, we question this belief. 2003). Why cognitive flexibility is important for educators Teachers are often masterful task switchers and particularly attuned to adaptation given the fast-paced nature of the classroom. According to this article, cognitive flexibility makes you more open to taking risks and more willing to learn from mistakes. What is cognitive flexibility? 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