Cognitive Competence

Tomorrows attracter Term paper Topic cognitive competency Wai (Synergy) Content dampen 1 1. Definition cognitive competenceP. 3-4 2. Theory of cognitive competenceP. 5-8 3. Factors bear on cognitive competenceP. 9-10 4. Importance of cognitive competence in loss leadershipP. 11-12 5. Ways to erect the aim of cognitive competenceP. 13-14 fragment 2 Self evaluationP. 15-17 lead off 3 ReferenceP. 18-19 Part 1 Definition of cognitive competence 1. Cognitive competence is define as the ability to perform adequately those cognitively complex tasks considered inhering for living on ones make in this society. Willis SL. (1996). E very(prenominal)day cognitive competence in venerable psyches conceptual issues and empirical findings, Oct36(5)595-601) 2. The ability to develop and fancy the cognitive skills of self-talk, the reading and interpretation of social cues, using steps for worry- settlement and ratiocination making, understanding the sight of diametrics, underst anding behavioral norms, a positive carriage towards life, and self awargonness. (The W. T. Grant Consortium on the School-Based Promotion of favorable Competence (1992 136)) 3. Academic and in sortectual achievement. include the ability to use logic, analytic stand foring, and sn are reasoning) (Catalano, R. F. , Berglund, M. L. , Ryan, J. A. M. , Lonczak, H. S. , Hawkins, J. D. (2002). Positive y turn outh instruction in the United States research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Pr blushtion and Treatment, 5 (15), 1-106. ) This three definitions are little bit diametrical. The third one is besides narrow as it unsloped mentioned academic and intellectual achievement. The second one, on the other hand, is non specific luxuriant. In my understanding, I think back cognitive competence is better outlined using the first two definitions. Cognitive competence is defined as the ability to perform adequately those cognitively complex tasks c onsidered immanent for living on ones own in this society. It to a fault includes understanding the purview of others, understanding behavioral norms, and self awareness. Theory Hui & Suns imitate (2007) This exemplar divides cognitive competence into three types of persuasion 1. Creative opinion, a stylus of looking at occupations or situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox solutions (which may look unsettling at first). 2.Critical thought process, which includes reasoning, making references, self-reflection, and coordination of sevenfold views. Critical thinking has been described as the process of purposeful, self-regulatory judgment, which uses reasoned term to evidence, context, conceptualizations, methods, and criteria. (Facione, Peter A. Critical Thinking What It is and Why It Counts, Insightassessment. com) 3. Rational thinking refers to consistent or reasoning universe involved in the notion process. It refers to providing reasons or rat ional behind eyeshots or ideas.It adds an element of calculation and planning to a steam of thoughts rather than basing them on emotion or personal opinion. It is a kind of objective process of thinking and an analytic approach to either occupation. Rational thinking is based on reasons or facts and is hence over very much more(prenominal) calculating and realistic. Geiwitzs model This model divides cognitive competence into three steps of thinking 1. cognize what, to discern what is the problem 2. lie with how, to know how the problem can be solved 3. go to bed why, to know why choose particular method to solve the problem, or to appreciate the method currently used. What How WhyIn Hui and Suns model, productive thinking is the innovative way of thinking. It al misfortunates people to invent peeledly things or idea. Critical thinking is used when commenting on something, e. g. in writing editorials. As for rational thinking, it is used when analyzing. In my opinion, th e second model is easier to understand. And it shows progressive takes of cognitive competence, whereas the first model tho divides our thinking into three different ways. Therefore, I would further explain cognitive competence using the second model for reference. Take the example of inventors of the worlds first airplane the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur.This is an entire example to illustrate the concept of cognitive competence and the Geiwitzs model. Applying the Geiwitzs model, the Wright brothers aim was to create a flying mould, this is the know what take of cognitive competence. They then started to think and design this machine, and this is the know how level of cognitive competence. Finally they treasured the products (whats good and not good most it) and thought how to improve further. The know how and know why steps repeated. And finally an ripe(p) airplane was invented. Start Know what to invent a flying machine Know how How to built a better flying machi neKnow why Why this model is good/not good tolerable echo A satisfatory model is invented Another example to illustrate is the development in higher(prenominal) jump styles. The styles used in high-jumping has changed from initially cut style, to straddle style, and finally the Fosbury style which is still using nowadays. Start Know what to jump high Know how What jumping style Know why Why this style is good/not good nice Repeat A satisfatory syle is invented Factors relateing cognitive competence I think the federal agents affecting the development of ones cognitive competence can be divided into intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors.Intrinsic factors are those confine to yourself, firearm extrinsic factors are those influenced by the environment. For intrinsic factors, I think thither are intelligence, personalities, knowledge and chivalric experience. For intelligent, I think it is not rough to imagine that it is heavy for high cognitive competence. Intelligence is particularly distinguished for the know how and know why stage. Only if you are wise enough can you think of a new way to solve problem that no one has ever think of or find out what is the problem of existing method universe used by other people.Moreover, intelligence is kind of unlearned therefore, cognitive competence is as well as inborn to a certain extent. As for personality, I think people with different personality may affect his/her mathematical process in problem solving and the presentation of his cognitive competence. For example, if a person lacks confidence and sames to ken with problem in a low risk aspect, he/she may not abandon the existing widely used method to tackle the problem and use new methods even though he is clever enough to think of many other new potential methods. They may only attempt the new ways when they are 100% more powerful and safer than the existing ones.Knowledge and old experience are very similar. They both(prenominal) can be regar ded as memory. They are very important factors that affect cognitive competence. When tackling problems, memory continuously acts as your reference, it hallows you basic training and background about the problem. And help you to figure out the solution in relation to this reference. Like the case of the Wright brothers, when they tried to invent a flying machine, their knowledge in engineering gives them basic information of how to piddle it. It is interesting to notice that some clocks past experience may resist our cognitive performance.For example, when you are bridge playering with a project you are very familiar with, you might too much into your experience and knowledge and think that it is impossible to explore new methods. For extrinsic factors, there are environment (e. g. family background, situation of the problem) and the temper of problem Environment is the major extrinsic factor affecting ones cognitive competence. It determines many of intrinsic factors inclu ding past experience, knowledge and even personality. Environment can also affects ones attitude to deal with the problem, thus performance of cognitive competence.For example, the due date of your proposal is tomorrow morning and now is already three oclock in the morning and you hitnt even started yet. I am true you may feel desperate and will not spend much time to think of the new ideas. Moreover, family socialization also affects cognitive competence and intelligence of people. (Grundmann, M. Teo, doubting Thomas Socialization, intelligence, and cognitive competence (1997)) Another one is the nature of the problem. It determines ones past experience and knowledge are profitable or not. It is because the past experience and knowledge can not bind to all situation.Importance of cognitive competence in leadership Cognitive competence is important in leadership. A research points out that cognitive skills were found to be directly correlate with high-level of leadership perfor mance in a MLE (Military Leadership Exercises) research. (Marshall-Mies et al. , 2000) Often included intelligence, general skills, crystallize skills (e. g. oral and written expression and comprehension), and creative or divergent thinking capacities are cognitive capabilities that should influence leadership performance. (Connelly, Gilbert, Zaccaro, Threlfall, Marks & Mumford, 2000).I also agree that cognitive competence is important in leadership. First of all, leader with higher level of cognitive competence can deal with different kinds of problems with his own way of thinking. That means they can find out his own most effective way to tackle the problem without copying others method. This gives the leader independency that he does not need to rely on others too much. It also gives them maturity that they can have their own way of thinking. independence and maturity surely are the important factors of a leader. This makes people contented and feeling safe to follow you.Secon dly, leader with high level of cognitive competence can have great contribution to the team. They can give out a lot of useful ideas that no one has thought of before. This already makes them the strongest ones or the most unique ones in the team. volume would go to sleep to follow leaders which are stronger than them. Again, this makes them feel safe. Finally, leaders with high level of cognitive competence can have a clear reason and know what is wrong in the team. They know what the team should do (goal). And they evaluate the performance of the team, and find out what should be improved.That means they are not only using cognitive skills in problem solving, but also in team management. It is because team management itself is already a task. People with higher cognitive competence usually have higher IQ and are conflicts encountering (Heydenberk R. A. and Heydenberk W. R. , Increasing Meta-Cognitive Competence through passage of arms Resolution(2005)) Ways to enhance the leve l of cognitive competence Before discussing how to enhance the level of cognitive competence, I think we should first identify what cannot be changed or be improved.They are called constrains. Through understanding what are the constrains, we can focus on what can and what should be improved. The constrains include family background, intelligence and personality. These factors are sort of fixed, or can only have little change. So, to raise the level of cognitive competence, I think it is effective that we punctuate to learn as much as possible. This is to enhance our knowledge and enrich our experience. As mentioned, knowledge and past experience are two important factors affecting ones cognitive ability.This is because they are our own sources of information about the problem creation coped. We can make use of this information to find a way to solve the problem. We may not figure out any new method, at least we know how people deal with it previously. In Janet E, Et Al, The rout ine of metacognition in Problem Solving, four steps of thinking is also mentioned to make it people to solve problems. They are 1. Identifying and defining the problem 2. Mentally representing the problem 3. Planning how to proceed 4. Evaluating what you know about your performanceThis way of thinking can help people to organize their thoughts, so that they can deal with the problem step by step. I think it is a quite useful way to improve cognitive performance because it makes people organized and focus on one job at a time. This prevents them from being interrupted from different sources. Furthermore, it helps people to think logically. Part 2 Self-reflection Hong Kong students are known to be a copycat. We are blamed to have low level of creativity and afraid to listen new things. People always say that we rightful(prenominal) copy things from others or textbooks without digesting them.But I think it is not totally my case. I am not a dense student. I used to be very creati ve in primitive school. Others describe me as naughty. It is because all my creativity is used in inventing new ways to play tricks on my classmates. I remember one time I played a game in an activity class. My instructor ask my group to use a deck of playing separate to build a tower as high as we can. wherefore we started. Other groups are using the traditional method (see left). Obviously it requires high technique. Therefore they can only built towers with few floors high. But I figured out another method.I folded up two cards, turn them sideway to make two L shape walls, put them go about each other to make a square wall, on hint of it I placed a flat card. And I repeated to do this. Of course, my team built the highest tower. But guess what happened next. My teacher told us that was against the rules. play cards are not supposed to be folded (She didnt tell us before the game). We lose that competition at the end. I think, later this event, my creativity started to sl owly bury in my heart deeply. When I repudiate this event, I discover one important thing.That is our creativity is often being restricted by our teachers, and our education system. Teachers set all the projects, homework with rules and restrictions, toilsome to make them easier to mark and compare. But this made our assignments all looking the same. examen questions have all the model answers, this made our student the same person who can only memorize answers without digesting the questions and answer them in their own way. not that I dont have critical thinking and creativity. It is just because they have to be thrown away to survive in HKs education system.Take the example of A-level exams, the curriculum is very tight that teachers even cannot have time to teach us all the topics included. How would I have time to individually explore all the topics taught? Instead, in order to expire high grades in this exam, I spent most of the time on memorizing past papers model answers . I know it would not help my cognitive development, but getting into a good university is more important to me. I believe this is also the problem of many students. Now, when I am given a problem to solve, I still try my best to explore the alternatives.May be this is due to my personality. I just dont like to be the same with others. I like to be unique. But I think I am not creative as I was small anymore. Apart from the reason about the restrictions set by teachers just discussed, another possible reason may be due to my own knowledge and experience. As I mentioned in part 1 of this report, knowledge and experience, although can help to solve your problem, they sometimes hinder your cognitive performance. Sometimes this happens to me. I just rely too much on the knowledge and experience, and cannot think out of the box.But the major reason is still because of the education system in HK. But in the university, a place to train students critical thinking and creativity, I think th at this problem would become less severe. To improve my cognitive abilities, I think the best way is to train to have independent critical thinking. Dont rely too much on knowledge from any sources and my own or others past experience. Always try my best to look for other possible alternatives. Although this might spend a lot more time and at the end there may not come up any new things. But I think the process can also help me to develop my cognitive skills.Although it might hinder my cognitive performance, I think it is still important to enrich my knowledge and broaden my horizon. This is because learning more can permit me compare different theories and thus train my independent critical thinking. They are also my valuable first encountered source when any problem comes to me. Part 3 Reference Willis SL. (1996). Everyday cognitive competence in elderly persons conceptual issues and empirical findings, Oct36(5)595-601 The W. T. Grant Consortium on the School-Based Promotion of Social Competence (1992 136)Catalano, R. F. , Berglund, M. L. , Ryan, J. A. M. , Lonczak, H. S. , & Hawkins, J. D. (2002). Positive youth development in the United States Research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Prevention and Treatment, 5 (15), 1-106. Grundmann, M. Teo, Thomas Socialization, intelligence, and cognitive competence (1997) Marshall-Mies et al. , 2000 Connelly, Gilbert, Zaccaro, Threlfall, Marks & Mumford, 2000 Heydenberk R. A. and Heydenberk W. R. , Increasing Meta-Cognitive Competence through Conflict Resolution(2005)