Memory and Memory Strategies Presented by Colleen Klein Chris Henry

Types of Memory Working Memory (a.k.a. short term memory) Working Memory (a.k.a. short term memory) Long Term Memory Long Term Memory

Working Memory Component of memory where new information stays while it is mentally processed Component of memory where new information stays while it is mentally processed It is where much of our thinking, or cognitive processing occurs It is where much of our thinking, or cognitive processing occurs Does most of the work of the memory system Does most of the work of the memory system

Working Memory continued Two noteworthy characterstics Two noteworthy characterstics 1. Short duration- 5 to 20 seconds (e.g. L. R. Peterson & Peterson, 1959) 1. Short duration- 5 to 20 seconds (e.g. L. R. Peterson & Peterson, 1959) 2. Limited capacity- works for a moment 2. Limited capacity- works for a moment

Long Term Memory Long Term Memory Final component of human memory system Final component of human memory system Holds information for a relatively long time (day, week, year, lifetime) Holds information for a relatively long time (day, week, year, lifetime) Has three characteristics-long duration, essentially unlimited capacity, and a rich network of interconnections Has three characteristics-long duration, essentially unlimited capacity, and a rich network of interconnections

Techniques to help refine our long term storage methods for faster & more accurate retrieval

Using Rehearsal to enhance retention Rote rehearsal Rote rehearsal -simple repetition -simple repetition -cumulative repetition -cumulative repetition - learner rehearses the first few items then the next set of items and so on - learner rehearses the first few items then the next set of items and so on

Other rehearsal strategies Paraphrasing Paraphrasing Selecting and note taking Selecting and note taking Predicting Predicting Questioning Questioning Summarizing Summarizing

Chunking (grouping) to enhance retention Example Example

Breakdown of previous number 342 (address) 342 (address) 1941 (year U.S. entered WWII) 1941 (year U.S. entered WWII) 62 (father’s age) 62 (father’s age) 1776 (Declaration of Independence) 1776 (Declaration of Independence)

Categorical Chunking Learner establishes various types of categories to help classify large amounts of information Learner establishes various types of categories to help classify large amounts of information Example Example-similarities/differences -arrays (observable features like shape, size, etc)

Mnemonics Mnemonics Useful for remembering unrelated information, patterns, or rules Useful for remembering unrelated information, patterns, or rules Two types- RhymingReduction

Rhyming mnemonics Example Example Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred ninety-two The Spanish Armada met its fate in fifteen hundred and eighty-eight The Spanish Armada met its fate in fifteen hundred and eighty-eight

Reduction Mnemonics Reduction Mnemonics Reduce a large body of information to a shorter form and use a letter to represent each shortened piece Reduce a large body of information to a shorter form and use a letter to represent each shortened piece

Examples of reduction mnemonics HOMES HOMES Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior BOY FANS BOY FANS Coordinating conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions But, Or, Yet, For, And, Nor, So But, Or, Yet, For, And, Nor, So

One more example for the Science Guy King Phillip Came Over From Greece Sailing Vessels King Phillip Came Over From Greece Sailing Vessels (the descending order of zoological classifications: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, Variety) (the descending order of zoological classifications: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, Variety)

Visual Association- The ability to recall a word depends on how meaningful and concrete a word is. The ability to recall a word depends on how meaningful and concrete a word is. Concrete words you simply associate the word with what it is. Concrete words you simply associate the word with what it is. Abstract words require you to think of a mental image that you would ssociate with it (ex. intelligence=Einstein). Abstract words require you to think of a mental image that you would ssociate with it (ex. intelligence=Einstein).