Post 2 – some skepticism

  • What questions would you like to explore on the topic of cognitive presence?

My explorations of the COI model and theorizing has left me with many more questions than learnings. Like many models, especially those trying to quantify and evaluate processes of the brain (e.g. critical thinking) – I find them lacking in various components. For example, I have found the COI model and explorations of cognitive presence are lacking significantly in explorations of multiple cultures, and other epistemologies and ontologies. The COI model is built upon a social constructivism foundation – a set of theories that are contested and debatable.

Yet, there are some aspects of the theories of cognitive presence that I also find useful. Like many things, I do not see it as as an either/or. However, I am still skeptical of the statement provided in the final sentence: “We believe such an approach is capable of refining the concept and model presented here to the point where it can be a reliable and useful instructional tool for realizing higher-order educational outcomes.”

I find this hard to fathom when this set of theorizing has not been explored in, for example, communities of Indigenous learners, or, English as a second (or third, or fourth, etc.) language – especially if it’s frequently been built upon content analysis as the methodology for confirmation. I have found too much of the COI literature to be promotional, as opposed to engaging in critical thinking, which it purports to explore and essentially quantify. We humans know so little about brain function and processes – and some of the theorizing and writing on this subject seems to stretch what ‘we know’ –  a little too far for my comfort. Thus leaving me with many questions to explore in relation to theories of cognitive presence.

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