1. Cognition and Learning:
EQ: How does our ability to access and interpret information allow us to learn from our environment?

2. I. What is Cognition? Cognition is thinking
We think based on the stimuli that surrounds us
To access this information, we use our senses
To interpret this stimuli, we use our highly developed brain
This thought process is also part of cognition
In essence, we are what we think

3. II. How does cognition influence learning?
In classical conditioning and operant conditioning, we are really not concerned with the thought process involved
Everything is either a natural response or a conditioned response to stimulus
The problem is, however, that we may not always have an immediate reward or punishment based on our behavior, but we still manage to learn for the sake of learning
In other words, our learning cannot always be connected to conditioned or unconditioned responses
Sometimes we just learn because we choose to learn

4. III. Examples of Cognitive Learning
There are many examples of cognitive learning
Many times, especially when we are young, we are learning, and we don’t even know we are learning
When a child asks “Why?” they are demonstrating a deeper level of cognitive thought than what may be on the surface.
“Why?” may be the purest statement of cognitive learning there is.
Children innately want to know more because they know so little that we know

5. A. Learned Helplessness
People, especially today, are the masters of their environment
Technology has allowed us to escape from the confines of humanness that our forefathers were bound to
If we don’t like the temperature, we adjust the thermostat
If we don’t like our entertainment, we change the channel or change to another source of entertainment
The problem is, though, that we become “helpless” very easily

6. A. Learned Helplessness
The concept of learned helplessness is that when we feel that we cannot effectively manipulate our environment, we give up
This is a cognitive behavior because we are choosing to give up
In many cases, we could easily fix the problem or we could do something different
Instead, we give up 

7. B. Latent Learning
Have you ever been in a situation where you did something that you were not aware you could do?
How did you do it?
Probably trough latent learning
Latent learning occurs when we learn something and we are not even consciously aware we are learning
Mr. Creech, for example, can cook all kinds of wonderful foods, not because he was ever taught to cook, but because he used to watch the Food Channel all the time and photographically memorized hundreds of recipes

8. C. Tolman and Latent Learning
The first psychologist to study the phenomenon of Latent Learning was Edward Tolman
In his classic experiment he used three groups of rats
Group A: Group B: Group C:

9. D. Cognitive Mapping
A cognitive map is when we organize data in a method that is easy for us to remember at a later time
Tolman described the experience of the rats in his experiment as a lesson in cognitive mapping
Over time, the rats learned the correct turns to take in the maze so that they could get out
In theory, if Tolman had wanted to test this theory, he probably would have discovered that over time the pace at which the rats could go through the maze would increase

10. D. Cognitive Mapping Example: Your House at Night!!!

11. E. Insight and Learning:
An insight is something that we suddenly realize that allows us to understand a solution to a problem
Wolfgang Kohler studied problem solving in Chimps
In his experiments, Kohler created complex problem solving tasks for the chimps to retrieve food
What he witnessed was that, like us, these chimps became quite useful at manipulating their surroundings to get the food
He also noticed that the chimps would often think before they tried to get the food
Kohler believed that this showed that we learn form our previous experiences and through trial and error

12. E. Insight and Learning Example:

13. F. Observational Learning:
We, especially when we are little, learn many things through observing others
In many cases, we learn these things even if we are not aware we are learning them
As parents, brothers, sisters, and just plain people, we must be aware that others, especially young others are constantly watching us and mimicking our behaviors
“ I Learned it by watching you!!!”

14. F. Observational Learning Example:
Example A: Example B: