Cognitive Tools

Cognitive tools help learners with complex cognitive learning activities and critical thinking. These tools are learner controlled: They construct their knowledge themselves using the tools rather than memorizing knowledge. Cognitive Tools can be used by teachers to integrate the technologies that students of today are familiar with into their everyday lessons and learning. Different age groups, intellectual groups and subject areas are provided with numerous amounts of these tools in differing content and degrees of difficulty. Such tools for an older, more intellectually advanced age group include:
1.INSPIRATION.
A tool that prompts and assist in high-level analysis and evaluation. Inspiration allows for ideas and thoughts to be isolated and highlighted all steaming from the main theme of the subject.
2. GAMES.
When a game is relevant to the subject matter, it can be a very effective higher level-learning tool. Games can be very inclusive for students allowing them o interact with each other as well as with the new knowledge and ideas. Another point for games is that they fulfill one of Glasser’s 5 needs; FUN. If a student is given the freedom and fun associated with games they will more likely to be open, receptive and retain the newly acquired knowledge.
3. WEBQUEST.
Webquest are almost like games on the internet. However they are always educational based and can be geared towards specific learning areas and topics. Webquests are a great tool to use in teaching as they incorporate fun and challenges into learning. Students often react well to them as they are different to the way that learning is “suppose” to be i.e. boring, monotomous and teacher based. The students are in control of the webquests in different mediums such as story writing, acting and art.
The following are a few examples of good English and History based webquest exercises.

http://bestwebquests.com/bwq/listarea.asp?wqcatid=3&edid=

http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/ath/library/webquests/backintime/default.htm