RUME 27
2025
Alexandria, Virginia
Integrated Cognitive-Instrumental Model: A Dual Framework for Analyzing Cognitive Processes
Page: 965
Influenced by Piagetian constructivism and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, contemporary research has explored both individual cognitive development and the role of tools to mediate learning. In this theoretical report, we propose the Integrated Cognitive-Instrumental Model (ICIM), which synthesizes two prominent frameworks: APOS Theory (grounded in constructivism) and the Instrumental Approach (rooted in sociocultural theory). ICIM combines the strengths of both frameworks, where APOS Theory explains how learners move through stages in their cognitive development, and the Instrumental Approach shows how tools and artifacts shape and support this development. Together, these frameworks allow for a more comprehensive understanding of students’ cognitive development by bridging the gap between Piagetian and Vygotskian principles and highlighting the interplay between individual cognitive processes and the socio-cultural environment. ICIM offers a robust, multi-theoretical approach that provides a new perspective into student thinking with the potential to inform both research and instructional practices.