Theory cognitive is based on thinking processes such as internal mental processes that enable humans acquire knowledge, tracking, store, achieve and recall stored knowledge for to be use back or reuse.

Cognitive learning theory founded by Bruner and Simon in 1950-an, emphasizes on the formation of the coding system, this coding system will allows transfer, promotes memory and adds solutions problems and motivate students. When a student experiences teaching and learning process, they will encode every experience that accepted and stored in both short-term and long-term memory long.

The changes of behavioral are used as an indication of a process occurs in the minds of students. Cognitive theorists identify that learning involves relationships that are forged through continuous practice and repetition. Reinforcement is important but its role is to provide such feedback motivation is emphasized.

In looking at the learning process, Bruner emphasizes the influence of culture on one's behavior. In his theory, "free discovery learning" he said that the learning process will run smoothly and creatively if the teacher gives students the opportunity to find a concept, theory, rule, or understanding through the examples he encounters in his life. According to Bruner a person's cognitive development can be improved by arranging the subject matter and presenting it according to the person's developmental stage.

According to Piaget, that learning will be more successful if it is adapted to the stage of cognitive development of learners. Learners should be given the opportunity to experiment with physical objects, which are supported by interactions with peers and assisted by insight questions from the teacher. Teachers should give a lot of encouragement to learners to actively interact with the environment, find and discover various things from the environment.

Students will learn better when they can cope with the environment well. Teachers must help them to interact with the environment as best they can. The material to be studied should be new. Provide opportunities for students to learn according to their developmental stages. In the classroom, learner should be given the opportunity to talk and discuss with their peers.

The students will try to compare the reality outside of himself with the mental model he already has and with their experience, they will try to adjust or rearrange the structures of their ideas in order to achieve balance in mind. From this implication it can be seen that the basic assumption of this theory is that each person has knowledge and experience in theirself that is organized in the form of cognitive structure, which then undergoes a stage of learning as a change of perception and understanding of what learner finds.

Assimilation (adaptation) of the original property owned by the property surrounding environment.

Accommodation. Eye adjustment to receive clear shadows from different objects.

Equilibration. The learning process is more determined by how we organize subject matter is not determined by the age of the student.

Constructivism was pioneered by Lev Semyonich Vygotsky (1978) a psychologist through his book ‘Mind in Society’. He separates between thinking and language, and develops separately. He also focuses on the relevant proximal development zone (ZPD) with teaching technology. The use of constructivism theory is very important because this theory is very proven dominant in education now because it provides a paradigm shift to a more cognitive-based approach than the traditional approach which is more to behaviorism.

Jean Piaget (1976), in his book ‘To Understand is to Invent: The Future of Education’ explains that knowledge develops as a result of knowledge construction individual after the individual’s understanding. Piaget emphasizes knowledge while being temporary and changing over time. It is a process continuously and constantly reorganized. The concept of constructivism is a teaching and learning approach that describes how human beings are learning by the way knowledge is organized in the human mind. Elements constructivism has long been practiced in teaching and learning methods in all levels.

Constructivism emphasizes on the role of students and teachers as mentors only. The advantage of this approach is students have the opportunity to actively build knowledge through the process of mutual influence between previous learning and recent learning. Learning the former is associated with the latest learning. This relationship is built by students. This is because according to this theory of constructivism, the concepts are built on a person’s cognitive structure will evolve and change as it gets new knowledge or experience.

In constructivist theory, learning is not a process of memorizing information where correct answers are given by teachers. Therefore, learning must begin with issues that are closely related to the interests and curiosity of students. Understanding of a learning topic should be made comprehensively and as a link between the small parts with basic concept.