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Memory is processed information stored for later use.

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Memory is a process that happens quickly.

All memories start with a stimulus that triggers chemical messages to send to the brain. Most messages are released after a few seconds, but sme messages, after repeated practice or an emotional attachment, get stored in long term memory (Sousa, 2022).

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Sensory Memory: stimulus, such as a color or sound, observed through one of the five senses and sent to the brain (Sousa, 2022).

Short Term Memory: storage of sensory information for a brief amount of time (Psychology Today, n.d.)

Working Memory: sensory information being manipulated and practiced (Sousa, 2022).

Short term and working memory are oftern interchanged, however stimuli in short term memory disappear for a few seconds and working memory can eventually lead to long term memory.

Long Term Memory: After repeated practice in working memory, the chemical message gets stored in long term memory for future use of the content (Sousa, 2022).

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What happens when memories are stored in long term memory?

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What happens when memories are stored in long term memory?

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Long term memories get stored in the brain region called the hippocampus for future use. If memories have strong emotional attachments, they may also be stored in the brain region called the amygdala.

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Transfer has two parts:

1. the effect past learning has on learning new skills

2. the way a learner applies the knowledge gained to new situations (Sousa, 2022)

When new information is taught that has been previously stored in long term memory, the brain resurfaces the memory to aid in learning the new information (Sousa, 2022).

Activating background knowledge at the beginning of a lesson will initiate the first transfer process and lead to retention of new material. The instruction of new knowledge should be effective in the fact that the student will take the knowledge gained and apply it in a future situation. This requires repeated rehearsal.

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Strategies to Improve Memory in the Classroom

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Strategies to Improve Memory in the Classroom

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There are a few ways to improve memory, retention and transfer in the classroom:

introduce new learning as soon as possible during a lesson because it is most likely to be remembered (Sousa, 2022)

teaching students to chunk information can lead to an increase in memory retention (Sousa, 2022).

using mindfulness activities, such as breathing exercises, listening to music and more can calm students' minds, including those with trauma. Mindfulness can also lead memory retention (Mendel, n.d.)

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Students with trauma are unable to form memories the same way as their peers. Their brains are constantly in a state of fight or flight mode, preventing memory setbacks, anxiety and more (Lebow, 2021). Students with trauma need compassion, patience and consistency.

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Retention: when long term memory is stored in a way the student can locate and retreive the answer in the future (Sousa, 2022)

Retention requires consistent practice, called rehearsal (Sousa, 2022). The student must process and reprocess the information. For example, during a lesson, there must be time for the students to apply the information they were taught. After a lesson is taught, there should be a review session the next day or later for students to reprocess the information they learned. Retention ensures learning was made and the students are able to apply their knowledge gained.

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The ultimate goal of educators is to teach students information they will remember and use. Teaching content and providing repeated practice, and potentially emotion, will allow the working memory messages to be stored in long term memory, thus establishing learning. If information is not stored in long term memory, learning would not be met.