Schema

Schema is often thought of as patterns, structures, or scaffolds inside our heads.

There are two kinds of schema or schemata (plural):

Data schemata is knowledge that is stored and retrieved in bundles or packets.

Process schemata are procedures or ways of processing and organizing information.

Here's an analogy:

State schemata are to data files as process schemata are to programs that are in execution.

State schema is schematic knowledge of.

Process schema is schematic knowing how.

You should think about the strategies we'll work on in this class as process (or knowing how) strategies. Instructional designers use instructional and learning strategies by applying them to learning tasks.

*** Stop now and go back to the course site and complete the application 1.2.

Schema theory suggests...

Perception is primarily the construction of meaning by massaging the new with the old within the schemata available.

In addition, perception is activated by an event.

People have many schemata events and many attributes.

Constructed Meaning

Perception is seen as an active process.

The constructed meaning is program driven (schema) rather than event (or phenomenally) driven.

Not only do schemata allow perception, comprehension and learning, they also aid recall, as we tend to remember material in terms of relevant schema.