Three Pillars of Cognition

When considering continuing education today, you have a lot of choices. Notice, I did not say when seeking another diploma you have a lot of choices. If you are a working professional, your goal is to learn more, become more confident in your ability to perform and to stay ahead of the very visible wave of change. In that process you will most likely get the recognition of a well earned graduate degree.

Some people just want a diploma and don't really care if they learn much in the process. Google all the online programs and you will see the great variety of offerings.

All learning environments are supported with the three pillars of cognition. If the pillars are strong, you learn a lot, if they are weak, the learning outcome is deficient. Test yourself against these three pillars to see how you have learned in the past. If you are distracted and don't pay attention, you will not learn. If you can't associate new material with what you know, you will not learn. If you do not take the time to reflect on what you have learned, you will not reach a higher level.

"For learning to occur, the Three Pillars of Cognition must be present.

1.) The learner must be paying attention to the learning resource, in whatever form it is provided.

2.) The new material must relate to and build upon something the learner already knows.

3.) And for deep, higher order learning and performance, the learner must spend time alone, pondering the knowledge and understanding that have been acquired so far." (credit to S. Willard Elieson?University of North Texas)

At The University of Texas Dallas, our executive education program for healthcare professionals has been uniquely designed to provide an ideal learning environment exclusively for healthcare professionals.

When it comes to paying attention, the live classroom provides practical hands-on experience, in-depth discussions, immediate feedback, collaboration, and the development of interpersonal skills.

When it comes to new material, the shared knowledge of your classmates provide a foundation to build upon. This shared knowledge is readily available freely given.

When it comes to higher order learning and performance, individual reflection creates a community of shared learning.

Take a peek into our case based classroom learning environment. (20 sec)

Bob Kaiser is a Clinical Professor of Healthcare Leadership and Management in the Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas and the host of the?Business of Healthcare Podcast.

Healthcare Leadership and Management?is a MS/MBA program for physicians, clinicians and administrative healthcare professionals.?

Now accepting?applications?at the highly rated Jindal School of Management.