What is Bruner’s Three Modes of Representation?
This theory focuses on how information is received, processed and stored within an individual’s mind. It describes the stages or modes of learning as Bruner identified them. Within Bruner’s theory of learning, representation refers to portraying and providing information or knowledge, skills, and behaviours in a particular way.
Bruner divides representation into three parts, each focusing on how information or knowledge skills and behaviours are provided, recalled, shaped, and stored within the mind. These three modes of representation are Enactive representation (action-based), Iconic representation (image-based) and Symbolic representation (language-based). Each of these modes draws on a specific method of information delivery as identified. The reasoning provided for this thinking by Bruner is that at the age stage the individual is in, they are receiving the majority of their new knowledge, skills and behaviours via this method of information.
Despite Bruner providing an expected age range for the different modes of representation to appear within the normative development of a child, he was under the belief that the modes are only partly sequential. This means that they do not always follow this given pattern and that an individual may routinely process information through these stages regardless of age. Brunner thought that learning was more effective and of a higher quality if the individual processed new knowledge, skills, and behaviours through each of the stages throughout their life.
Enactive Representation
Age range: 0 – 1 years
Information delivery: Action based
The first mode within this theory emphasises that knowledge, skills, and behaviours are acquired through actions, movement, and physical learning.
Enactive representation, as suggested by Bruner, refers to the process where an individual physically experiences and explores an object, action, or event. This is the first kind of memory that an individual can recall and retain within their mind. As such, it occurs in children from birth to 1 year old, where their thinking is based solely on physical actions, and learning is achieved by ‘doing’ rather than cognitive processing of external information.
Bruner further suggested that through repetition and recalling, these physical actions become encoded in working memory and are stored in long-term memory. Essentially, the more an individual explores physically, the more likely they are to acquire new knowledge, skills, or behaviours.
When this type of learning is recalled, it is associated with muscle memory. A common example of this mode is a baby’s instinctive reaction when shaking an object they are holding.
Iconic Representation
Age range: 1 – 6 years
Information delivery: Image based
The second mode of representation is that of Iconic representation. This mode focuses on information being learnt and stored as sensory images (icons), or more simply put, the encoding of visual images in the ‘minds-eye.’ The learning process of this mode also involves the recalling of visual information. The latter is seen as an active or a conscious action, whereas the former is a passive or unconscious action. However, despite visuals being the main factor for information processing and learning new knowledge, skills, and behaviours within this mode, the other senses also play a part in an individual’s ability to encode new information, such as hearing, touch, smell and taste.
All the senses in this mode work together to create a clear mental image of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours being processed, which supports retention and learning. This mode of representation builds upon the enactive stage and typically emerges in children between the ages of 2 and 6 years.
Symbolic Representation
Age range: 7 years onwards
Information delivery: Language based
Symbolic representation is the mode that focuses on the processing and storage of linguistic information. It is the mode where knowledge, skills and behaviours are processed through symbols, patterns, and written language. According to Brunner, the Symbolic mode develops last within an individual and will first appear within a child around the age of 6 to 7 years old.
One aspect of this mode that is different to that of the other two is that Symbolic learning is a more malleable form of knowledge, meaning that the knowledge, skills and behaviours an individual develops can be manipulated, ordered, and classified repeatedly compared to their counterparts which represent a fixed understanding of what has been presented are processed. One of the reasons for this is that the knowledge, skills, and understanding are stored in a symbol system such as music or mathematics or within the form of verbal and written language, which Brunner described as the ‘tools of thought’. Without this connection between language and information processing, Burner thought individuals would struggle to process information logically and problem-solve.
More about Constructivism can be found here on the NEN Explain: Constructivism.
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