When there is a conflict between what they think and new information, what does a student do?

When there is a conflict between what they think and new information, what does a student do?

• A. They forget the new information
• B. They rely on prior beliefs
• C. They learn and accommodate, or modify a cognitive scheme, based on the new information
• D. They seek external validation

Answer: (C)

When new information conflicts with what they think, learners typically adjust their thinking by modifying their existing mental frameworks to fit the new data. This process is accommodation: revising or expanding a cognitive scheme so it can incorporate the new information rather than just sticking with the old idea. For example, if a student believes all birds can fly and then encounters a penguin that cannot fly, they update their thinking to recognize that some birds don’t fly and revise their general rule accordingly. This is different from simply clinging to prior beliefs (assimilation) or ignoring the new information or seeking validation without changing their understanding.

When new information conflicts with what they think, learners typically adjust their thinking by modifying their existing mental frameworks to fit the new data. This process is accommodation: revising or expanding a cognitive scheme so it can incorporate the new information rather than just sticking with the old idea. For example, if a student believes all birds can fly and then encounters a penguin that cannot fly, they update their thinking to recognize that some birds don’t fly and revise their general rule accordingly. This is different from simply clinging to prior beliefs (assimilation) or ignoring the new information or seeking validation without changing their understanding.