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Memory can be described as the overall essence of who you are as a person (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022). Everyone’s memory is different, and it reminds us about who we are and what we are connected to based on our recall of past events. There are different types of memories to be mindful of as they all operate differently.

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One type of memory is short-term memory which refers to information that only needs to be recalled for the moment (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022). For example, when students recall the instructions that a teacher gave right before starting a task is an example of short-term memory. It is only needed for that moment and then it can be discarded after the moment is over.

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Additionally, long-term memory refers to ideas or skills that are apart of you as an individual (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022). For example, learning how to ride a bike is a long-term memory because it stays with you. This is something that you will likely never forget therefore it is a part of your persona.

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Lastly, sensory memory refers to memory formed through the five senses (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022). For example, when you come inside from cold weather your hands may still be cold even though you are inside. The memory is stored in your senses for a few moments after the initial interaction.

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The ability to retain and recall information is crucially important to educational environments due to all the content students need to remember to excel. Students have on average 5 subject courses and they need to be able to retain and recall the information for all spaces. As educators, we should continue to research memory and retention and infuse supports to ensure student success.

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When memories are established, the hippocampus behaves as the memories home (Sousa, 2022). An individual experiences something and the brain stores it in the appropriate place. The hippocampus transfers memories to other parts of the brain for storage and it refers to it when needed (Sousa, 2022). The more exposure you have to a topic will strength the memory and you should be able to recall it faster. There are many steps to establishing a memory and it’s important that educators understand this process to better support students.

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Retention refers to the ability to locate and retrieve information accurately (Sousa, 2022). Retention is different than learning because you can forget something that you learned over time. If you cannot recall it, then you did not retain that information. For example, if you lose track during a conversation then you are not retaining the information being said. Retention also has a few factors such as student development, the amount of time spent on the activity and prior learning (Sousa, 2022).

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Transfer refers to the ability to apply the learned information in different settings when needed (Sousa, 2022). Being able to apply past learning to new situations is a sign that retention happened successfully and this should lead to transfer. For example, in my practice I teach students how to engage with texts to unpack meaning. When they get to the next grade, they are still using the annotation strategies that I taught them. This is an example of transfer successfully happening. If transfer is not successful, then students will not be able to transfer any learned skills to a new situation (Sousa, 2022). Transfer is important for student learning because education is a building block.

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How is Retention and Transfer Connected to Learning?

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How is Retention and Transfer Connected to Learning?

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Retention and transfer have very strong relationships with learning. Learning is entirely about remembering information and applying it to different aspects of the learning process. Each academic school year builds upon the last and if students struggle to retain information, then their educational journey may be difficult. Educators need to consistently find ways to meet the different memory needs of students. Ensuring students are retaining information will ensure they have better success as they proceed through their academic career.  Educators should constantly refine their practice to ensure students have multiple opportunities to practice retention.

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Trauma has a significant effect on the brain and memory. Trauma can cause a cortical shutdown which prevents an individual from receiving information (Dr. Perry, 2022). Pressure can prevent an individual from accessing full brain function and this pressure can be trauma of all forms (Dr. Perry, 2022). When someone is calm, they are more susceptible to process information. Someone who has experienced trauma may not be capable to operate in this calm state (Dr. Perry, 2022). Trauma activates your stress response system which can negatively impact memory. (Dr. Perry, 2022). If memory is impacted in this capacity, learning will be difficult. Students require a calm state to allow the brain to receive learning and retention.

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There are several strategies that educators can use to improve transfer, retention and/or memory in the classroom setting. For example, allowing students to have dialogue with one another can support transfer (Sousa, 2022). Student dialogue can support retention in the long run because students are engaging with each other regarding academic content. Students learn best from each other, and this can support success in future situations. Students enjoy interacting with one another and if educators imbed more student dialogue then they can successfully support transfer.

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Strategy number two is fostering an environment where students feel safe (Dr. Perry, 2022). Students who’ve experienced any extent of chaos, unpredictability or lack of belonging may struggle to engage with academics (Dr. Perry, 2022). Ensuring students feel safe in your classroom is crucial for learning to happen. When educators provide an environment that is structured, managed well and displays compassion then students’ nervous system can relax, and the brain can be open to learning and retention. Relationship building is a crucial part of access to learning and while this may seem simple, it can directly change how a student processes information.

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Harvard Health Publishing. (2022, March 21). Memory. Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/memory

Sousa, D. A. (2022). How the brain learns (6th ed.)

Dr. Perry. (2022). How the brain stores and processes memories [Video]. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/memory