DOI: 10.5176/2251-3566_L312101
Authors: REBECCA LAVANIE DAVID
Abstract: This paper focuses on the understanding and enhancing of
adolescence learning and thinking skills on two areas of study:
pedagogical content and coursework investigative skills in food and
nutrition in Singapore Secondary Schools. The background study on
cognitive psychology, educational psychology and cognitive
neuroscience bridges important aspects on the development of the
adolescent’s brain when thinking and learning takes place. This
draws attention on how the adolescent’s brain processes information
and learns pedagogical content effectively and highlights on the
structural changes that take place in the human brain during the
adolescence years. There is further discussion on the link between an
adolescent cognitive development and Piaget’s Theory of Intellectual
Development based on educational psychology. The importance of
enhancing an adolescent’s thinking and learning skills brings closer
attention on the significance of active learning on content
pedagogical activities and engaged learning on coursework
investigative skills which is referred to two sample lessons that was
carried out during the food and nutrition curriculum in a Singapore
Secondary School.
Keywords: Cognitive psychology: The branch of psychology that is concerned
with the study of how the mind processes information. Cognitive
psychology is generally taken to include the study of perceptual
processes, attention, memory, imagery, language, concept formation,
problem solving, creativity, reasoning, decision-making, cognitive
development, and cognitive styles. (Peter Stratton & Nicky Hayes,
1988, p. 35)
Educational psychology: A combination of psychology and
education focusing primarily on understanding the processes of
teaching and learning that take place within formal environments and
developing ways of improving those methods. (Huitt, W. 1999).
Cognitive neuroscience: Cognitive neuroscience is an academic field
concerned with the scientific study of biological substrates
underlying cognition, which addresses the psychological or cognitive
functions produced by the brain.
Adolescence: Adolescence is a time characterised by immense
hormonal and physical changes (Coleman & Hendry, 1990; Feldman
& Elliott, 1990). This transition from childhood to adulthood is also
characterised by dramatic changes in identity, self-consciousness and
cognitive flexibility (Rutter & Rutter, 1993).
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