Memory and Transfer by Jessica Copland

Memory-Episodic

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:02:50 UTC

Episodic Memory recalls events in the past. Under this form of memory, autobiographical memories recalls information that forms one's identity (Psychology Today, 2024). One's self-concept affects how they recall long-term memories made in the classroom, either positive or negative (Sousa, 2022).

Memory-Semantic

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:08:44 UTC

This part of memory stores all factual information such as the capital of Ukraine and how many cups are in a gallon (Psychology Today, 2024). The function of the semantic memory is vital within the classroom for remembering content and recalling for later use (Sousa, 2022).

Memory-Procedural

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:11:45 UTC

Procedural memory stores how we accomplish things such as riding a bike, driving a car, or tying our shoes (Psychology Today, 2024). Repetition of skills through practice is used here in the classroom such as math facts. Should be paired with physical movement to increase retention (Sousa, 2022).

Memory-Short term/Working

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:14:32 UTC

Our short term or working memory temporarily stores information that we are currently working with. Examples of this are phone numbers, the temperature outside, and numbers that you are working with in a word problem (Psychology Today, 2024). Vital when manipulating new information for long-term storage in the classroom (Sousa 2022).

Memory-Sensory

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:25:39 UTC

This memory processes sensory input in a variety of ways. Examples are:

iconic memory- just seen (short term)

echoic memory- just heard (short term)

visual-spatial memory-ex. walking to class

auditory memory- ex. how a song sounds

olfactory memory- ex. the smell of brownies cooking

haptic memory- ex. how sand paper feels

(Psychology Today, 2024)

Involving all sensory input will strengthen neural connections to long-term memory (Sousa, 2022).

Memory-Prospective

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:28:39 UTC

Prospective memory involves recalling an intention from the past to affect our future actions. Examples of this care calling someone back, remembering to get bread at the store, stopping by a friend's house, etc. (Psychology Today, 2024). This is used in multi-step directions with math equations or directions for assignments.

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:31:24 UTC

Psychology Today (n.d.) Types of Memory. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/memory/types-of-memory

Making a Memory

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:39:01 UTC

Forming a Memory

1) Stimulus fires a neuron-faster it fires, more activation

2)Dendrites become more sensitive

3) long-term-potentiation-synaptic awareness

4)engram-when neuron fires, they all fire

5)memories stored in pieces throughout brain

6)more connections=more understanding attached

(Sousa, 2022)

This process is vital for the storage of information learned in the classroom.

Stages of Memory

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:44:26 UTC

Environment --> sensory and immediate memory --> working memory --> long term memory --> declarative (conscious memory) or nondeclarative (implicit memory)

(Sousa, 2022).

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 21:45:33 UTC

Sousa, D.A. (2022) How the brain learns. (6th Ed.) Corwin. A Sage Publishing Co.

Emotional Memory

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:09:15 UTC

Emotional Memory has a strong affect in how a student learns in the classroom. How they feel about themselves, how they perceive the teacher feels about them, and how they feel about the content affects their recall of long-term memory (Sousa, 2022).

Transfer During Learning

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:17:30 UTC

Past learning is manipulated and updated through the working memory (striatum and hippocampus) as new content is learned and applied to the long-term memory. It is then combined for future use (Sousa, 2022).

New current learning is a long-term memory created from the working memory and stored (Sousa, 2022).

Retention of Learning

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:22:25 UTC

Retention of learning occurs when a long-term memory is recalled repeatedly and practiced through journaling, hands-on activities, social sharing, and shared teaching (Sousa, 2022).

Positive/Negative Transfer

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:25:55 UTC

Positive transfer= past learning helps the learner learn new things i.e. a viola player learns the violin

Negative transfer= Past learning hinders learning new things i.e. a pianist learning the guitar

(Sousa, 2022)

ELL's and Transfer

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:29:50 UTC

English Language Learners have trouble with transfer due to information having to be process through two languages. Videos and images help support transfer (Sousa, 2022).

Increasing Learning Transfer

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:32:27 UTC

Increasing Transfer

activating prior knowledge
videos and auditory
use metaphors, simile to transfer abstract knowledge
journal writing
(Sousa, 2022)

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:40:06 UTC

Lebow, H.I. (July 2, 2021) The science behind PTSD symptoms: how trauma changes the brain. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/ptsd/the-science-behind-ptsd-symptoms-how-trauma-changes-the-brain

Process of Traumatic Experiences

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:47:44 UTC

When a person faces a dangerous situation:

1) nonessential systems shut down

2) sympathetic nervous system releases stress hormones

3) triggers fight, flight, fawn response

Trauma= recurring memories that release stress hormones when threat is imminent or perceived repeated over and over again

(Lebow, 2021).

Amygdala Reaction to Trauma

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:55:18 UTC

Amygdala:

1) Sends out stress hormones when remember traumatic events as if happening for first time

difficulty learning due to being in the lower brain

causes high levels of anxiety and stress all the time
always on edge
(Lebow, 2021)

Hippocampus Reaction to Trauma

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 22:57:41 UTC

1) Smaller and less active when experienced trauma.

2) Can create issues around memory and problem-solving

3) hard to distinguish between past and present

4) hypervigilance

(Lebow, 2021)

Prefrontal Cortex Reaction to Trauma

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 23:00:22 UTC

1) less active

2) slow down process of learning new information

3)has a harder time overriding flight/fight response

4) struggle with logical thinking

(Lebow, 2021)

Increasing Memory with Trauma

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 23:16:29 UTC

To encourage strong memory retention/transfer in the classroom with students who have trauma, try this:

1) build strong relationships

2) create safe environment

3) lower noise distraction

4) teach mindfulness practices

(Sousa, 2021)

Ideal Learning Times

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 23:20:39 UTC

Primacy-Recency Effect= we remember best what comes first and last so...teach new material first then review material last.

Learning blocks should be shortened due to small attention spans (Sousa, 2021).

Best Practice

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 23:23:49 UTC

DO:

rehearse understood information
use visual materials
learn by doing
have students teach others
use spiral learning

Do NOT:

use rote memorization
have long learning blocks
teach similar material back to back
use mastery- will not have long-term storage
(Sousa, 2021)

Movement and Learning

jessicaecopland — 2025-09-28 23:25:43 UTC

Movement incorporated before and after learning increases blood flow to the brain and activates several areas of the brain to increase learning and memory (Sousa, 2021).