Memory and Transfer Professional Resource by Patrick Hartsfield

Educators quest to understand how the brain retains and transfers information.

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 18:46:04 UTC

Educators are the pivotal influencers of society. They foster environments to help shape student's emotional resilience, cognitive framework, and their ability to navigate the constantly changing and dynamic world. Teachers play an impactful role in motivating students to learn by creating a positive engaging learning environment.

The Different Types of Memory

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 19:38:38 UTC

Educators’ ability to understand how memory works is essential to helping learners to adapt and learn. Each type of memory plays unique roles in the learning process. For example, sensory memory is when the brain identifies concepts from the environment. It is short and lasts for only a few seconds. Basically, the brain recognizes visual and auditory cues. This is also called “iconic” and “echoic” memory. Short-term memory is as the name suggests. It is when the brain stores information temporarily. “Working memory” is short-term memory, but it stores information to manipulate it like remembering numbers to use in a math problem. Educators should know how to focus on working memory as learners have the most control over it. Working memory can actively be improved. Long-term memory is also as the name suggests. It is stored completely and indefinitely. However, although memories stored in the long -term memory are thought to stay for a long time, it is possible to be affected by risks to the brain. Memory is fundamental to learning because educators need to foster a learning environment that incorporates activities that allow learners to transfer knowledge from short-term to long-term with repetition

Overview of retention and transfer

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 20:51:44 UTC

Educators hope to achieve retention of shared knowledge for learners. Retention is when learners can remember the information over time. Information is stored in long-term memory so that learners can retrieve the information later. Transfer is when learners can use information learned in one circumstance to another. It’s important in education because students can use skills learned in the classroom to real life like math. Learning basic math skills can help students with budgeting, cooking, shopping, or construction projects in the future.

How Trauma Affects Memory

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 20:56:54 UTC

Trauma has a profound effect on memory because during a traumatic event the brain enters survival mode. The brain responds differently during traumatic events, and it isn’t a cognitive choice. The amygdala triggers the brain to enter flight mode. This is where memories are connected to emotions. Emotional memories are stuck here in the midbrain (amygdala) and do not reach the hippocampus. And the hippocampus is the portion of the brain that helps record details, so those that experience trauma are unlikely to remember what, when, and where. A survivor’s trauma becomes a strong emotional or sensory experience. Therefore, trauma takes away the ability to integrate events episodically and causes a barrier for remembering details like dates, locations, etc.

Strategies to improve memory, retention, and transfer

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 21:22:05 UTC

One strategy is “chucking” or breaking information into smaller segments so it can help minimize stress and improve both learning and retention.

Another strategy is making connections. Learners often can retain new information better if it relates to something in their own experience. Information holds more value if students can relate how it will be used now or in the future. This is very helpful in teaching as it helps transfer current knowledge to new knowledge.

A third strategy is making learning positive and engaging by creating hands-on-activities, simulations, utilizing visual diagrams or other visual aids, using music. This strategy is important to education, training, and in general because it is another way to reach learners that may not benefit from verbal instruction.

A strategy that would be beneficial to those that have experienced trauma would be multi-sensory activities and fostering a positive learning environment. This strategy is beneficial to education, training, and in general because it helps students that struggle with paying attention and those learners that have sensory overload.

References

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 22:15:41 UTC

(2006)., B. J. (n.d.). Traumatic stress: effects on the brain. Retrieved from Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 8 (4), 445-461: https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2006.8.4/jbremner

Collins, M. (2021, June 18). Applying Insights from Neuroscience in the Classroom. Retrieved from edutopia : https://www.edutopia.org/article/applying-insights-neuroscience-classroom

DiTullio, G. (2021, September 9). How to Engage Students' Memory Processes to Improve Learning. Retrieved from edutopia : https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-engage-students-memory-processes-improve-learning/

Lesley University. (n.d.). How Memories Are Made: Stages of Memory Formation. Retrieved from Lesley University: https://lesley.edu/article/stages-of-memory

SlideShare. (n.d.). Brain-based strategies from enhancing retention. Retrieved from SlideShare: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/brian-based-strategies-for-enhancing-retention/49129924

Terada, Y. (2019, February 4). Understanding a Teacher's Long-Term Impact. Retrieved from edutopia : https://www.edutopia.org/article/understanding-teachers-long-term-impact

Wolz, K. (2019). Trauma and the Brain: A Look at How Traumatic Event Shape Memory and Perception. Retrieved from MOSAIC GEORGIA: https://www.mosaicgeorgia.org/trauma-and-the-brain-a-look-at-how-traumatic-events-shape-memory-and-perception/

Good Thoughts

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 22:32:15 UTC

Impactful teachers are empathic, supportive, understanding, and sympathetic, and they foster the youth one learner at a time!

phartsfield22 — 2025-08-06 22:49:35 UTC

https://padlet.com/embed/8oh2sa6frr9cuw33" frameborder="0" allow="camera;microphone;geolocation;display-capture;clipboard-write" style="width:100%;height:608px;display:block;padding:0;margin:0">

https://padlet.com?ref=embed" style="display:block;flex-grow:0;margin:0;border:none;padding:0;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">

https://padlet.net/embeds/made_with_padlet_2022.png" width="114" height="28" style="padding:0;margin:0;background:0 0;border:none;box-shadow:none" alt="Made with Padlet">