CFT

Cognitive Flexibility Theory= Flexible Instruction. There are obvious similarities between CFT and Case-Base Models but CFT requires that the information from different contexts can be represented in many different ways. While reading the Fitzgerald article, it was obvious to see that CFT promotes learners constructing meaning through self managed learning. I am a fan of the theory, but of course I have my suggestions for improvement. The best advantage of CFT is that it simulates thoughts and responses. A major barrier of CFT is that it assumes knowledge is already known. Students are not the same and come from an array of backgrounds/experiences. With that being said, in the 21st century, students have many tools that can help them obtain knowledgeable information. Barriers can be overcome if, and only if topics are relevant. I would suggest giving a pretest before the actual representations are designed. Students, as well as instructors will benefit from overcoming these barriers by generating interesting ideas and having meaningful discussions about a given topic.

This theory is good to use when certain topics need more discussion in order for students to understand. Basically, challenging topics can be tackled by introducing students to the information in different formats (media).

Tools that could assist students with CFT:

• Blogs
• Wikis
• Powerpoint
• Youtube

As long as the tool includes a group feedback section, instructors can post questions and scenarios to generate meaningful discussions.