SCHEMA THEORY
SCHEMA THEORY Schema theory was developed by R. C. Anderson, a respected educational psychologist . This learning theory views organized knowledge as an elaborate network of abstract mental structures which represent one's understanding of the world. The term schema was first used by Piaget in 1926, so it was not an entirely new concept. Anderson, however, expanded the meaning. Understanding some principles from schema theory can help in your work. Here are some principles to apply: ü It is important to teach general knowledge and generic concepts. A large proportion of learner difficulties can be traced to insufficient general knowledge, especially in cross-cultural situations. ü Teachers must help learners build schemata and make connections between ideas. Discussion, songs, role play, illustrations, visual aids, and explanations of how a piece of knowledge applies are some of the techniques used to strengthen connections. ü Since prior knowledge is essential fo