Understanding+Memory

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 * The memory system of humans, dogs, horses, and birds** have many common features. We have a very limited short-term memory that holds fewer than ten items for only about 30 seconds. Much of our learning involves the conversion of short-term memory into long-term memory, often with the aid of an emotional association. This conversion is called //encoding//, and the opposite is //recall// where we bring the contents of memory into consciousness. Again, note the interplay of conscious and unconscious processes. We’ve learned many ways of improving learning by improving the encoding or recall process; taking notes is one example of a way to move items from short-term to long-term memory. Rehearsing a memory by recalling it again and again helps to strengthen the long-term memory.


 * Let’s look at a single, common act of memory** that we expect daily of students. How do we remember a single new word? Read //How the Brain Learns New Words//, a synopsis of new research from Davis, DiBetta, McDonald, and Gaskell (2009) that discusses the role of sleep in moving new learning to long-term memory at:

@http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/people/matt.davis/wordlearning/


 * What can stand in the way** **of encoding or retrieving memory?** That’s another way of saying what can impede learning from the brain’s point of view. Watch the short video (1:30 min) on //Stress and Memory// from Univ. of Washington to see how researchers investigate these questions:

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Memory Encoding
Short-term memory can hold an average of seven discrete items for only about 30 seconds. That memory may become encoded into long-term memory if the brain has a motivation to do so. To cement the memory, it must be rehearsed or recalled shortly after it is learned. To reliably recall long-term memories, we must have some way to “look up” the memory. View this **Brian Walsh video on //Memory Encoding//** (5 min) to see a non-technical approach to improving how you encode material to strengthen its movement from short-term to long-term memory:

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Chunking Memory Technique
//Chunking// is another system to strengthen our limited short-term memory. The government of Ontario, Canada, has created a site to help senior citizens deal with their aging brains, and the following page describes how your can //chunk// a list of items into smaller number of groups of related items: @http://www.successfulaging.ca/programs/memory/26.html. Here is a video example that adds a mneumonic device that makes it even stronger: media type="youtube" key="jDbAYMUXpcA" height="405" width="660"

Link Method Memory Technique
The //link system// of memory connects the new //meaningless// or //unconnected// information to existing meaningful memories that you have. Everyone has to do this for themselves to connect to their own meaningful memories. As originally described by the ancient Greeks, the system was called the //palace of memory// and Greek orators used the senate chamber where they spoke to remember their long addresses. They would link the first part of their speech to the some column or statue on one end of the room or building, the second part to the next architectural item, the third to the next item they could see while giving their speech. This system works well for a day or so, but it doesn’t help you understand how the elements are meaningfully related in the world.

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Concept Mapping Memory Technique
Concept maps are used to explicitly link new concepts to existing ones and new concepts to each other in //meaningful//, associative ways. Originally created independently by David Ausubel, Josehp Novak, and Tony Buzan in the mid 1900’s, there are now excellent software tools to help create and share concept maps, also called //mind maps//, such as Inspiration, the free CmapTools program, and the [|free Bubble.us website].

And here are [|Five Simple Techniques to Improve Memory].

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 * [|Neoroscience For Kids] Memory Experiments for the classroom grades K-12 This is a website I found during a cognition and technology class. It is 16 pages long if you print it out, but the links include on-line, paper-pencil, and easy to do experiments to test and improve memory. SUE BYERS Carlisle Area School District**======