Cognitive flexibility hypertext

Definition

Cognitive flexibility hypertext is a learning environment designed according to cognitive flexibility theory.

This text presents essentially the foundations for cognitive flexbility hypertexts, a clear design model is yet missing

Foundations of the model

The Spiro et al. ground their model on 2 issues: Firstly a lot of knowledge to be taught is both complex and ill-structured and and second that such teaching remains a challenge. “Cognitive and instructional neglect of problems related to content complexity and irregularity in patterns of knowledge use leads to learning failures that take common, predictable forms. These forms are characterized by conceptual oversimplification and the inability to apply knowledge to new cases (failures of transfer). For learners to develop cognitively flexible processing skills and to acquire contentive knowledge structures which can support flexible cognitive processing, flexible learning environments are required which permit the same items of knowledge to be presented and learned in a variety of different ways and for a variety of different purposes (commensurate with their complex and irregular nature).” (Spiro, 1992)

Any effective approach to instruction must simultaneously consider several highly intertwined topics, such as:

1. the constructive nature of understanding;
2. the complex and ill-structured features of many, if not most, knowledge domains;
3. patterns of learning failure;
4. a theory of learning that addresses known patterns of learning failure.

(Spiro, 1992)

In particular, Spiro et al. a are concerned by oversimplification for which they identify several forms, e.g. the additivity biaas (learners think that parts integrated into a whole retain the same characteristics), the discreteness bias (continuous processes are segmented into discrete steps), and the compartimentalization biais (highly interdependent conceptutal elements are trated in isolation with taking into account interaction effects).

“The remedy for learning deficiencies related to domain complexity and irregularity requires the inculcation of learning processes that afford greater cognitive flexibility: this includes the ability to represent knowledge from different conceptual and case perspectives and then, when the knowledge must later be used, the ability to construct from those different conceptual and case representations a knowledge ensemble tailored to the needs of the understanding or problem-solving situation at hand.” (Spiro, 1992)

Rephrased by Godshalk et al (2004:211) Cognitive flexibility theory

as conceived by Spiro et al. (1987) suggests the following:

• Using multiple case studies to insure that a variety of possible situations are presented.
• Focusing on cross-case differences in how concepts and principles are applied.
• Consideration of multiple perspectives (individual points of view) as an aid to understanding the connected nature of the domain concepts and promoting flexible knowledge building.

According to Spiro and Jehng (1990), this crisscrossing connection of concepts and cases is most readily accomplished using the ability of hypertext systems (such as the WWW) to explicitly link information. The key to deciding how to link concepts is to provide themes and perspectives that may be considered across the cases.

“In summary: Ill-structured aspects of knowledge pose problems for advanced knowledge acquisition that are remedied by the principles of Cognitive Flexibility Theory. This cognitive theory of learning is systematically applied to an instructional theory, Random Access Instruction, which in turn guides the design of nonlinear computer learning environments we refer to as Cognitive Flexibility Hypertexts.” (Spiro, 1992)

The architecture of a cognitive flexibility hypertext

Spiro et al. (1992) claaim that good strategies for advanced teaching and learning in ill-structured domains are in many ways the opposite of what works best for introductory learning and in more well-structured domains as for example in the direct instruction model.

A few constrasts of design features:

	introductory learning and well-structured domains	avance learning and ill-structured domains
knowledge organization	compartmentalization	knowledge interconnectedness
generalization	general principles with wide scope of application	across-case variability and case-sensitive interaction of principles
representation	single unifying representational basis	multiple representations

Since it is impossible to teach each occurence of ill-structured knowledge, Spiro et al. (1992) argue that “emphasis must be shifted from the retrieval of intact knowledge structures to support the construction of new understandings, to the novel and situation-specific assembly of prior knowledge drawn from diverse organizational loci in preexisting mental representations.”

Cognitive flexibility hypertexts feature:

• multiple linkages
• rearranged instructional sequences

“However, it is not that easy. Implementing Cognitive Flexibility Theory is not a simple matter of just using the power of the computer to "connect everything with everything else."” (Spiro et al. 1992). E.g. the learner should not become lost in a confusing labyrinth of incidental or ad hoc connections. Therefore this wiki while it could be used as a basis for flexibility hypertext to teach educational technology it is not yet one.

Hypertext design must not just reflect ill-structuredness of a domain but aim to train construction of new understandings in new situations. It's aims at a competence to build dynamically situated knowledge (situation-sensitive knowledge assembly).

Conceptual structure search

Content is automatically re-edited to produce a particular kind of "criss-crossing" of the conceptual landscape that visits a large set of case examples of a given conceptual structure in use. The learner then has the option of viewing different example cases in the application of a concept he or she chooses to explore. That is, the instructional content is re-edited upon demand to present just those cases and parts of cases that illustrate a focal conceptual structure (or set of conceptual structures). Rather than having to rely on sporadic encounters with real cases that instantiate different uses of the concept, the learner sees a range of conceptual applications close together, so conceptual variability can easily be examined. Learning a complex concept from erratic exposures to complex instances, with long periods of time separating each encounter, as in natural learning from experience, is not very efficient. When ill-structuredness prevents telling in the abstract how a concept should be used in general, it becomes much more important to show together the many concrete examples of uses.

E.g. in the KANE hypertext (Knowledge Acquisition in Nonlinear Environments) which explores thematic structure in Citizen Kane, the learner could see film scenes in a row, that illustrate different varieties or "flavors" of the "Wealth Corrupts" theme. Each of these scenes constitutes a case that illustrates this theme. Furthermore the learner then can consult case-specifc particularized background informations (definitions). Furthermore, there are cross-references to other instances of the conceptual structure or even other conceptual themes that are related to the "wealth corrupts" topic and that can also explain the behavior of Citizen Kane. “Thus there is a double particularization in Cognitive Flexibility Hypertexts: the generic conceptual structure is particularized not only to the context of a specific case, but also to the other concepts simultaneously applicable for analyzing that case. That is, each case or example is shown to be a complex entity requiring for its understanding multiple conceptual representations, with the role of non-additive conceptual interdependencies highlighted.” (Spiro et al., 1992).

Conclusion

It is again important to point out that “Cognitve Flexibility Hypertexts Provide Building Blocks For Flexible, Situation-Sensitive Knowledge Assembly, Not Final Products Of Knowledge” as one of the afterword subtitles in the on-line version of Spiro et al., 1992) points out. In this sense, cognitive flexibility hypertexts are exploratory environments that will enhance constructivist thinking, i.e. it provides building blocks for knowledge for knowledge construction. Single cases (or their features) can not be transferred as such to new situations, but require selective assembly of subsets of representational perspectives met in particular situation.

That stance lets the author conclude that “the extent of knowledge prespecification found in CFHs is limited to rough guideposts or starting points for thinking about the domain, with an emphasis on their flexibility rather than rigidity of structuration and use.” or by referring to Wittgenstein “meaning is partially determined by rough patterns of family resemblance and then filled out by interactions of those patterns with details of their specific contexts of use (Wittgenstein, 1953). It is for the learner to construct understandings that grasp these patterns of family resemblance and context-dependency; CFHs assist in this learner-based constructive activity.”

This approach is "middle road" between rigid rigid prestructuration and rigid prescription of routines for knowledge use, and discovery learning in a totally unstructured environment at the other extreme. In addition, as in most modern instructional designs, teacher/systems control is meant to fade out as the learner progresses.

A very general statement that DSchneider likes in the Spiro et al. (1992) paper is that “instruction must be as complicated as is necessary to achieve the established goals of learning, given the constraints imposed by the features of the knowledge domain that is the subject of learning.”. In support of this statement the authors cite previous research showing that initial simplifications of complex subject areas can impede the later acquisition of more complex understandings (Feltovich, Spiro, & Coulson, 1989; Spiro et al., 1989).

References

• Godshalk, Veronica M., Douglas M. Harvey, Leslie Moller (2004). The Role of Learning Tasks on Attitude Change Using Cognitive Flexibility Hypertext Systems, Journal of the Learning Sciences, 13 (4) 507-526. [1] (Access restricted).

• Coulson, R.L., P.J. Feltovich and R.J. Spiro. "Cognitive Flexibility in Medicine: An Application to the Recognition and Understanding of Hypertension." Advances in Health Sciences Education, 1997, 2, pp. 141-61.

• Feltovich, P.J., Spiro, R.J., & Coulson, R.L., (1989). The nature of conceptual understanding in biomedicine: The deep structure of complex ideas and the development of misconceptions. In D. Evans & V. Patel (Eds.), Cognitive science in medicine: Biomedical modeling. Cambridge, MA: MIT (Bradford) Press.

• Harvey, D., Jonassen, D., & Clariana, R. (2000). Cognitive Flexibility Hypertext and the Role of the Learning Task. In Kommers, P., & Richards, G. (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 2000 (pp. 423-428). Chesapeake, VA: AACE. HTML/PDF (Access restricted).

• Jacobson, M and A. Archodidou. " The Design of Hypermedia Tools for Learning: Fostering Conceptual Change and Transfer of Complex Scientific." The Journal of Learning Sciences, 2000,9, pp.149-199.

• Jonassen, D., D. Dyer, K. Peters, T. Robinson, D. Harvey, M. King, and P. Loughner. "Cognitive Flexibility Hypertext on the Web: Engaging Learners in Meaning Making," B. Khan, Web-Based Instruction. Englewood, Cliffs, N.J.: Educational Technology Publishing, 1997.

• Spiro, R.J, Feltovich, P.J., Coulson, R.L., & Anderson, D.K. (1989). Multiple analogies for complex concepts: Antidotes for analogy-induced misconception in advanced knowledge acquisition. In S. Vosniadou & A. Ortony (Eds.), Similarity and analogical reasoning (498-531). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

• Spiro, R. J. & Jehng, J. C. (1990). Cognitive flexibility and hypertext: Theory and technology for the nonlinear and multidimensional traversal of complex subject matter. In D. Nix & R. Spiro (Eds.), Cognition, education, and multimedia: Exploring ideas in high technology (pp. 163-205). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

• Spiro, R. J., Feltovich, P. J., Jacobson, M. J., & Coulson, R. L. (1992). Cognitive flexibility, constructivism, and hypertext: Random access instruction for advanced knowledge acquisition in ill-structured domains. In T. M. Duffy & D. H. Jonassen (Eds.), Constructivism and the technology of instruction: A conversation (pp. 57-76). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawerence Erlbaum Associates. HTML reprint