Department of Curriculum Studies

Faculty of Education
University of Pretoria
2007
BEd (Hons) CIE

CIT 720 Computers as Cognitive Tools

Text: Jonassen, D.H. 2006. Modeling with Technology. New Jersey:

Pearson Education Inc.

Reading Test 1

Name Student No.

Read the Preface to your prescribed book with a view to answering the
following questions; skip a line after each question.
 1. What fallacy was propagated by traditional education technologists?

If something is designs, constructs and embeds effective lessons in

television or computers and shown to students, they (students) will learn the
intended lessons

2. The author says that technologies are lousy teachers. What does he
say should educators consider?

Consider how students must think to learn most meaningfully

3. When does meaningful learning occur according to the author?

Mention 4 components of meaningful learning.

Conceptual engagement, conceptual development, intentional learning

4. What constitutes the most meaningful task or purpose to propagate
meaningful learning according to Jonassen?

Conceptual engagement
5. Explain the term conceptual engagement in your own words.

I would say it is internalizing a concept and making mindmaps of how to

accomplish the task
6. In you own words, explain conceptual development that is also
known as conceptual change.

This is how individuals come to realize concepts upon taking a number of

experiences into consideration, how they explain concepts in their own
words.
7. According to Jonassen methods and strategies are required to
support meaningful learning. In his opinion one of the most powerful
strategies to achieve this goal is for the learner to construct a model
of what he is learning. List 6 attributes of model building.

Engaging, supporting and assessing conceptual change,

Reading Test 2

Read pp. 3-8 in your prescribed book with a view to answering the following
questions; skip a line after each question.

1. Define conceptual change.

It is the mechanism underlying meaningful learning

2. Mention four variables that influence the amount and kinds of
 conceptual change in a learner.

Prior knowledge, individuality, usefulness and

3. Jonassen uses technologies to construct models that show learners’
internal conceptual models. Complete the following quotation from p4:
“As learners build and alter their models, they are … .”

4. Jonassen proposes that learners construct models of subject content

by using technology-based modelling tools. This facilitates the process
of conceptual change in learners and provides evidence of their
learning and conceptual change. Explain the following in your own
words: “A dynamic and reciprocal process occurs between internal
conceptual models and the external models that learners construct.”
[p5].