Chapter 7 Reflection

Chapter 7
Mental Imagery and Cognitive Maps

1. Chapter 7 discussed the characteristics of mental imagery and cognitive mapping. Mental imagery was described in two ways, analog coding and propositional coding. Analog coding is a picture representation of a physical object. Propositional coding is more abstract and words are used to describe the object.

2. This chapter relates to what we have already learned in Chapter 4 on the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad, which can be related to the ideas on mental images in chapter 4.

3. One of the questions that our discussion leader posted asked how you could monitor weather your students are using analog coding or propositional coding. I was not exactly how to answer this. I understand the difference between them but I think it is difficult to detect in our students.

4. One of the concepts in this chapter that I utilize is cognitive mapping. I always have to create mental images of anything that I am told or learn in order to have better understanding and retention of the information.

5. There is research in the chapter that supports the concepts in the chapter when they discuss Matlin and some of his case studies and other examples. I have also had several of my own experiences with imagery that I can relate to this chapter that supports everything that the chapter discusses.

6. Mental imagery is a very important component in our lives and learning. We use mental imagery unconsciously every day to learn new information or even recall previously learned knowledge.

7. As a teacher, I try to utilize the ideas of imagery a lot in my classroom. It’s important to teach children how to use their imagery to hold onto important information that they learn. They better they can hold an image in their head, they better they can recall it at another time.

8. There may be faster, better, or cheaper way of utilizing some of the concepts within this chapter is just for teachers to give examples to their students on mental imagery every day in every subject and encourage them to utilize these concepts as they learn.