Commognition is a framework in the learning sciences introduced by Anna Sfard, presented most fully in her 2008 book Thinking as Communicating. The term blends communication and cognition to express its central claim, that thinking is a person's internal communication with themselves, so that individual cognition and interpersonal communication are two expressions of the same underlying phenomenon rather than separate processes. From this view, mathematics is a historically established discourse, and learning mathematics means becoming a participant in that discourse. The framework grew out of Sfard's earlier 1998 distinction between acquisition and participation metaphors for learning, and has since been applied beyond mathematics education to chemistry, physics, science, statistics and teacher education.
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Core ClaimCommognition is a theory of thinking and learning in learning sciences research, a portmanteau of communication and cognition as if thinking is a person's communication with themselves. 2 Classification
Education Level FAQs
What are the acquisition and participation metaphors that commognition grew out of?
The acquisition metaphor treats learning as accumulating concepts and schemes, and the participation metaphor treats it as becoming a member of a community.
Anna Sfard's 1998 article On two metaphors for learning and the dangers of choosing just one argued that theories of learning divide between two metaphors. In the acquisition metaphor, learning is the accumulation of possessions such as concepts and schemes. In the participation metaphor, learning is a matter of becoming a member of a community. Sfard argued that neither metaphor can be relied on alone. Commognition developed from this distinction.
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Source Commognition (Wikipedia)
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1. Commognition (Wikipedia)
mathematics, as any other domain of knowing, is a historically established discourse, and learning mathematics is the process of becoming a participant in that discourseView the Source 2. Commognition (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead paragraph, sentences 1 and 2 (theory definition)
Commognition is a theory of thinking and learning in learning sciences research, introduced by Anna Sfard in 2008 book. It is a portmanteau of communication and cognition as if thinking is a person's communication with themselves.
Lead paragraph, sentence 1 (origin year)
Commognition is a theory of thinking and learning in learning sciences research, introduced by Anna Sfard in 2008 book.
In Approach: Constructivism, Lead paragraph, in-approach
Commognition developed from Sfard's 1998 distinction between "acquisition" and "participation" metaphors for learning, an article that became one of the most cited in educational research.
Developed By: Anna Sfard, Lead
Commognition is a theory of thinking and learning in learning sciences research, introduced by Anna Sfard in 2008 book.
In Group: Activity, Dialogue and Cultural-Historical Theories, Lead
Commognition is a theory of thinking and learning in learning sciences research, introduced by Anna Sfard in 2008 book.
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