What type of learning focuses on providing students with the needed background to understand complex topics?

Cognitive Learning Theory is centered on understanding how students process information and integrate new knowledge with their existing cognitive frameworks. It emphasizes the importance of background knowledge in helping students make sense of complex topics. This theory posits that effective learning occurs when learners can connect new information to what they already know, facilitating deeper comprehension and retention.

In Cognitive Learning Theory, instruction often involves teaching strategies that help students organize and assimilate information, such as using graphic organizers, prior knowledge assessments, and scaffolding techniques. These methods aim to ensure that learners have a strong foundational understanding, which is crucial for tackling more complicated content. By focusing on how students think and learn, this approach equips them with the tools needed to navigate challenging subjects more effectively.

The other options, while relevant in educational contexts, do not specifically emphasize the relationship between background knowledge and the understanding of complex topics in the same way.