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Memories are formed when a group of neurons fires together when activated. Neuron A receives a stimulus, which causes it to set off Neuron B. When Neuron A fries again soon after a link or connection is established. Later Neuron A can fire weakly to set off Neuron B. When Neruons A and B are set off they can set off Neurons that are close such as C and D. When this process happens repeatedly the four cells create a network and will fire together in the future which forms a memory.

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Types of Memory and Importance in the Classroom

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Types of Memory and Importance in the Classroom

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Episodic Memory: When a person recalls a particular event or episode that they have experienced in the past. (Remembering a conversation or Prom Night) Teachers can use this knowledge to help students learn by connecting new information to prior knowledge and personal experiences. This provides a stronger connection to transfer the learning to long term memory.

Semantic Memory:The storing of knowledge such as facts or definition of words long-term. Creating a hand motion to go with vocabulary words is one instructional strategy to use to enhance learning.

Procedural Memory: Things such as sitting on a bike after not riding one for a long time but being able to recall exactly what to do and steps to take. ex. how to braid hair, how to skip. A learning strategy used for this type of memory could be to use hands or activities and repetitive practice.

Short Term and Working Memory: The temporary storage of information for a short period of time but usually forgotten. Teachers can use this in the classroom by breaking down information into smaller chunks or using repetition to reinforce learning.

Sensory Memory: The short term memory of particular stimuli such as sight and sound. Using mulitsensory teaching strategies can capture a learners interest and attention.

Prospective Memory: Often called forward thinking memory. It is the act of recalling something from the past in order to do something in the future. ex. remembering to stop at the pharmacy to pick up medicine.

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What is the connection between memory and learning?

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Memory serves a unique purpose in the learning environment. Emotion has a big impact on the acquisition and retention of learning (Sousa 2022). Having knowledge and and understanding of the types of memories helps teachers in the classroom formulate teahing strategies that will best utilize the knowledge of memory to help students learn and retain information.

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Wouldn't it be lovely if teaching students were this simple?

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The reality is that you can stand up and teach teach teach but how much information the student retains is managed by their brain. You can help by using learning strategies best suited for a particular memory type. Learning and retention are two different things (Sousa 2022)

Retention is when the learner has conscious attention and builds those conceptual frameworks that have meaning to be converted to long term memory later. ie making connections to prior knowledge, or creating an emotional connection. This is the process where long-term memory is saves and stores learning so that it can be located, identified and retrieved in the future (Sousa 2022)

Transfer is the transference of new knowledge into long term memory that can be how information is best retained. This happens when specific brain regions overlap.

This is directly related to learning. As an teacher you want to utilize strategies that will get students to retain the information and transfer new knowledge into long term memory. It is there that the strong connections can be made and overlap to create knowledge.

Teachers can do this my intentionally referring to past learning to make connections for the new learning. It makes the leaning easier to understand and makes it meaningful.

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How are the brain and memory affected by trauma?

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Research has shown that trauma can have adverse affects on memory. When you encounter a traumatic experience the brain shuts down accept for the lower brain systems. Your body essentially prepares for survival mode, that flight or fight instinct. Typically once it has passed your brain would reset and go back to normal but this change does not always happen. According to Psych Central research shows "that the hippocampus is smaller and less active in people who’ve experienced trauma, which can create issues around memory and problem-solving" (Lebow 2021). This is the area of the brain that is directly associated with memory. It is also show that the area of the prefrontal cortex (decision making) is smaller in people who are living with trauma.

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Thankfully educators can use instructional strategies to improve memory and retention of knowledge. One strategy is to activate background knowledge. This is one I frequently use within my own classroom at the begining of every lesson. I connect it to the previous lesson or if it hasnt been taught then I connect it to a personal memory students may have. Research shows that having background knowledge can improve students working memory.

Another strategy is using retrieval practices such as using flash cards or a number chart as well as exit tickets for students to recall information.

Chunking information is another good strategy to use. Give students information in small digestible chunks. Checking for understanding in between chunks and connecting the chunks together makes the learning easier to manage and not so much at one time.