What is one key aspect of cognitive approaches in education?

Facilitating active learning is a key aspect of cognitive approaches in education because these approaches emphasize the importance of students engaging actively with the material they are learning. This engagement can take various forms, such as problem-solving, discussions, collaborative work, and hands-on activities, all designed to promote deeper understanding and retention of knowledge.

Cognitive theories suggest that learning is more effective when learners are directly involved in the process, allowing them to construct their own understanding and apply their knowledge. By encouraging students to actively participate, cognitive approaches help them build connections between new information and what they already know, thereby enhancing their ability to think critically and adaptively process information.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the principles of cognitive approaches. For instance, making students passive recipients of information undermines the active engagement that cognitive approaches advocate. Focusing only on visual aids would limit the variety of learning styles and methods applicable in a cognitive framework. Lastly, avoiding connections to prior knowledge contradicts the cognitive emphasis on building upon existing knowledge to facilitate meaningful learning experiences.