Cognitive flexibility

What is it?

Cognitive flexibility is being able to adapt or change rules easily in new situations. It is also the skill to quickly and accurately switch between performing two (or more) different tasks.

 How does it show?

• When switching from playing to doing homework.

• While Addition and subtraction.

• In a collaboration: understanding the perspective of others.

• By changing approach if it doesn't work.

• Example: this video - experiment, 'Switching Day And Night.

• In this example the sun = morning and the moon = evening. The student is instructed to say the opposite. When the cards follow each other in quick succession, the pupil gives the answers they know, namely sun = morning, moon = evening. When the pupil is urged by a rhyme ("Think about the answer, don't tell me") to think about the answer first and not to give the answer immediately, they can do it.  The reflection period is an important condition for training cognitive flexibility.