Schema Theory

The term schema is related to organizing and orienting attitude that also contains past experiences. In other words, schema is the knowledge of network of mental frames as well as cognitive constructs. Therefore, the schemata is the main determiner of the focus of a text and also what is learned from a text so schemata organize and maintain knowledge that is stored in the long-term memory.  Schemata present people’s personal simplified view over reality derived from their past experience as well as prior knowledge by enabling people to recall and modify their behavior, concentrate attention on key information as well.

According to Rumelhart (1980), there are four analogies of various aspects of the Nature of Schema. Firstly, a schema has variables which can be associated with different aspects of the environment so schemata are like plays since plays have characters, setting, actions, schemata have as well. Secondly, due to the fact that schemata enable people to interpret and predict events, they are like theories. Thirdly, schemata evaluate incoming information for the quality to fit, they are also active. And finally, schemata are like parsers because of the fact that they break down as well as organize incoming information in order to fit appropriate schema structures. 

In terms of problem-solving, schema based processing happens when people solve problems. Thus, schema is also effective in problem-solving due to the fact that it gives reasoning as familiar content makes people access a suitable mental model in terms of solving the problem which entails that experts and novices build different mental models. Experts are able to recognize mental models whereas novices might not possibly have sufficient mental models. In other words,  Since experts have been experienced, their approach to problem solving is related to matter of recognizing patterns therefore, their matching of these patterns correspond to the aspects of the problems. On the other hand, due to the fact that novices do not possess sufficiently elaborated mental models, they apply more general problem solving strategies. 

Regarding educational implications, teachers are supposed to guide their students’ mental models with the help of observations as well as asking their students an explanation so that they can make predictions and teach other student as well.