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Memory and Learning
What You Need to Know
Aaron Daffern Author, Trainer, Consultant AaronDaffern.com
Common problems
Students sometimes have difficulty:
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a noise?
If a student learns something but can’t remember it a week later, was it ever truly learned?
Memory test - preparation
I will read 8 statements aloud.
Do not write them down.
Your task is remember the descriptor for each man and what he did.
Ex. The twitchy man went into the house.
Remember: Do NOT write anything down. Simply use your memory.
Here we go.
Memory test
Now get out a pencil and a piece of paper. Number your paper from 1 - 8.
I’m going to quickly reread the stems for the 8 sentences in random order. Write down what each man did.
Memory test - answers
How did you do?
Memory model
Information comes in through our various senses
Students pay attention to certain items, keeping them in short-term memory (limited)
When information is encoded, it goes into long-term memory (storage) through a process called consolidation (usually overnight)
Students recall previously learned information through retrieval
Forgetting happens continually and is a natural process
Memory model
Word pyramid
Let’s pause a moment to process what we’ve learned about memory so far
On your piece of paper, you’re going to build a word pyramid about memory
An example on a different topic (Civil War) is on the right
Make your pyramid with one of the most common letters (S, P, C, D, or M)
Start with a 2- or 3-letter word
Write a sentence with that word
Prediction guide
Predict whether each statement is true or false.
Memory model
Retrieval
Retrieval practice, more effective than rereading notes or rereading a portion of text, can be as simple as writing down everything you remember, regular mini-quizzes, or stopping during a lecture to jot down two notes
Spacing increases the power of retrieval by spreading out retrieval rather than jamming it together
Interleaving also increases retrieval by mixing up the information, increasing recognition
Metacognitive feedback is vital because students need to know if what they retrieved is correct
Prediction guide
Predict whether each statement is true or false.
Memory model
Encoding
Elaboration is the process of finding additional layers of meaning in new material through reflection, generation, and association. Our brains are pattern detectors. We are always to figure out how things fit and work together.
Tasks that leverage memory use one or more elaboration tools:
Generative Writing
Think about what you just learned about elaboration.
For teachers to maximize the brain’s encoding ability, what do the students need to do?
What should the tasks look like?
Memory test 2.0
Memory test 2.0 - preparation
I will read 8 new statements aloud. Do not write them down.
Your task is remember the descriptor for each man and what he did.
This time ELABORATE by adding a quick mental explanation.
Ex. The twitchy man went into the house.
The twitchy man went into the house (to get his medication).
Remember: Do NOT write anything down. Simply use your memory.
Here we go.
Memory test 2.0
Now get out a pencil and a piece of paper. Number your paper from 1 - 8.
I’m going to quickly reread the stems for the 8 sentences in random order. Write down what each man did.
Memory test 2.0 - answers
Now how did you do?
Encoding and Retrieval
Students learn more when they:
My latest book, Worksheets Don’t Work, shares 50 different alternatives that teachers can use, instead of worksheets, to make learning stick
You’ve already experienced three of them
Word pyramid
Prediction guide
Generative Writing
Thank you!
Aaron Daffern
Author, Trainer, Consultant, Coach
@AaronDaffern
Amazon.com/author/aaron.daffern
To receive 1 CPE credit for this webinar, please visit AaronDaffern.com/memory-and-learning