From Data to Knowhow: Understanding Cognition for Better Learning
One of my former students called me this week to socialize and ask a question about the Indian education startup she wants to build. She said she wanted to deep dive into neuroscience and how the brain works. Her ultimate objective was to develop a new way to educate K-12 children. I suggested she study neuroscience, cognition, and artificial intelligence (AI). The three subjects today are a rich vein of interdisciplinary study. For example, the U.S. government’s Centers of Excellence define artificial intelligence simply as, “science, mathematics and cognitive science”.
She then asked why multidisciplinary approaches are not taught more frequently. Many faculty are not trained in multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary approaches to research and even fewer use artificial intelligence in their research. The National Science Foundation (NSF) recommends that every Ph.D. student study AI, multidisciplinary approaches to research and entrepreneurship. This training will more properly prepare a researcher for the 21st century.
A comment about physicists using information theory to explain knowledge and knowhow led to a series of definitions that explain cognition.
1. Data — what we perceive
2. Information — what we select from the data to apply to the frameworks
3. Knowledge — the information selected to advance the frameworks for enhanced understanding
4. Knowhow — the process of using information or knowledge to predict
This entire process defines cognition, which evolved to allow humans to predict, which is necessary for survival. Survival is the most fundamental objective of humans and all living things. Some living things survive with a less developed, more computer-like process that skips knowledge creation and goes directly to know-how.
I shared with her a list of authors to study the relevant fundamentals.
1. Jean Piaget (Child Development)
2. Daniel Kahneman (Cognitive Psychology, Behavioral Economics)
3. Howard Gardener (Cognitive Psychology, Education)
4. Daniel Dennett (Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience and AI)
5. Steven Pinker (Psychology, Linguistics, Cognitive Science)
6. Christoph Adami (Information Theory, Physics, Biology)
If the reader is well versed in the works of Claude Shannon and John Wheeler, I would begin with Adami. If I wanted to take a more historical approach, I would start with Piaget. The simplest to understand might be the Nobel Laureate Kahneman. Note how interdisciplinary these renowned thinkers are and Dennett, Pinker and Adami all incorporate principles from AI in their research and writing.
I look forward to seeing how my former student advances in her learning.