Memory and transfer professional resource by Josie Baker

Overview of types of memory

fannij — 2025-05-02 02:50:34 UTC

There are three categories of memory, short-term (or working), long-term, and sensory memory. All are of equal importance. In long-term memory, a person can recall details from events that took place at any point during that person's lifetime. Such details could be a phone call that took place thirty minutes before or recalling how it felt to receive a diploma during a graduation. In short-term memory (also known as working memory) a person comes across information and stores it for a brief amount of time. Some examples of information stored in the short-term include the temperature outside or the name of an acquaintance met just moments before. Sensory memory is a type of memory that can be both short- and long-term. Short-term sensory memory includes using sight and sound to identify surroundings (Types of memory, n.d.). Long-term sensory memory is similar to muscle memory, in the sense that a person knows and remembers what it feels like to walk or ride a bike.

These memories are of equal importance, especially when it comes to learning, and especially when it comes to children and adolescents learning in school. Sensory memory is at work when a student is writing down notes, which is a common way for students to remember information learned in class. Long-term memory is essential for students to remember facts during major testing events, like state testing or when taking the ACT. Short-term memory is essential for students to begin the long-term memory storage process. Students may be introduced to topics that go through short-term memory processes, but they will not be transferred to long-term memory storage until they are taught the subject with repetition (Sousa, 2022). By coming across the information repeatedly, students will successfully be able to transfer the information being learned from short-term memory to long-term memory. An example of teaching something repeatedly would be to include a bellringer (a short 5-minute assignment completed at the beginning of class) where students identify the different parts of speech in a sentence.

Sources

fannij — 2025-05-05 17:09:53 UTC

Lebrow, H.I. (2021). The science behind PTSD symptoms: how trauma changes the brain. PsychCentral.

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

Types of memory. (n.d.). Psychology today. Types of Memory | Psychology Today

Overview of retention and transfer

fannij — 2025-05-05 23:38:01 UTC

The brain cannot remember everything, so it has to pick and choose what gets retained and what does not. Things such as information related to survival, and experiences with a strong emotional response will be transferred to the long-term storage. This is because a person can attach meaning behind these experiences and responses. If a person cannot attach meaning to the learning, then the information will not get transferred to the long-term storage. Teachers can attach meaning to their objectives by creating lessons that connects to the students' past experiences (Sousa, 2022). For example, English teachers can accomplish this by having students analyze the meaning behind the lyrics in their favorite songs and identify any figurative language present. By making connections between the lesson and the students, teachers will successfully increase the retention and transfer of memory in the students (Sousa, 2022).

Trauma's effect on memory

fannij — 2025-05-06 01:47:11 UTC

Experiences that result in trauma effect numerous sections of the brain. In the hippocampus section (the center of learning in the brain) trauma reduces the size of this region and causes it to be less active. This causes limits with a person's problem-solving capabilities as well as creates issues within a person's memory processors. Not only that, but trauma also effects a person's ability to be able to distinguish between the past and the present (Lebrow, 2021). This is most common among people who suffer from the effects of PTSD.