Which statement best captures a cognitivist view of learning?

• A. Learning as a process of acquiring and organizing information, focusing on memory, problem-solving, and understanding.
• B. Learning solely through external behaviors.
• C. Learning is random and without structure.
• D. Learning is only about physical responses.

Answer: (C)

Cognitive theory treats learning as how the mind processes information: encoding, storing, and retrieving knowledge, with learners actively organizing what they learn and using memory, understanding, and problem-solving to make sense of new information. This description fits best because it emphasizes internal mental processes and the way information is structured in the learner’s mind, not just observable actions. The other statements describe learning as strictly external behaviors, random without structure, or limited to physical responses, which align more with behaviorist or overly simplistic views and miss the mental processing and meaningful organization central to Cognitivism.