Cognitive Apprenticeship

Cognitive apprenticeship is an instructional approach that helps learners develop skills and understanding through guided practice and real-world tasks, similar to traditional apprenticeships. It involves experts demonstrating their thought processes, providing immediate feedback, and gradually shifting responsibility to the learner. This method emphasizes making thinking visible—such as modeling problem-solving strategies—so that learners can learn through observation, practice, and reflection. It’s widely used in education and training to help students acquire complex cognitive skills, like critical thinking or reasoning, by working closely with experienced mentors in authentic contexts.