Memory and Transfer by Amanda Fancher

Types of Memory

afancher2 — 2024-09-01 03:20:44 UTC

Memory is our capacity to recall information (Harvard Health Publishing, 2024). Three important memories in educational learning environments are long-term memory, short-term memory, and sensory memory (Psychology Today, 2024). All forms of memory are essential in the classroom, as students need to be about to retain, learn, and adapt what they have learned into their own lives.

Memory Retention

afancher2 — 2024-09-01 03:21:17 UTC

Memory retention refers to the capacity to preserve information over time through the processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval (Sousa, 2022)

Trauma and Memory

afancher2 — 2024-09-01 03:21:47 UTC

Trauma to the brain, whether from physical injury or psychological stress, can lead to various forms of memory loss (Harvard Health Publishing, 2024). Students affected by trauma often do not receive sufficient mental health support, and many are not even identified as being traumatized (Hobbs, et al., 2019). Exposure to excessive stresses can decrease both the size and activity of the hippocampus (Hobbs, et al., 2019). This is important for teachers to attend professional development each year as the rate of trauma and the types of trauma continue to grow in the youth of today.

Strategies to Improve Memory, Retention, and Transfer

afancher2 — 2024-09-01 03:25:14 UTC

Strategies that can be used to improve memory, retention, and transfer are vital in the world of education. Educators need to stay up-to-date and informed of new techniques and new information discovered in the ever-changing field of education.

References

afancher2 — 2024-09-01 03:33:48 UTC

Long-term Memory

afancher2 — 2024-09-03 23:15:32 UTC

The memories the brain decides to hold on to are our long-term memories. These memories are stored in our cortex and have infinite storage capacity (DiTullio, 2021). A few examples of long-term memories are life events, facts, the meaning of words, language, how to do things, and habits (Psychology Today, 2024).

Short-term Memory

afancher2 — 2024-09-03 23:27:39 UTC

Short-term or working memory involves the information we need to access for a few seconds or minutes and what is actively being processed at that moment (Harvard Health Publishing, 2024). For example, our working memory is responsible for things like remembering the name in a sentence, recalling a date after looking it up or keeping a running total when adding things up in your head (Psychology Today, 2024). Each time a memory is formed, its parts are cataloged in the hippocampus, but once we have used that short-term memory, it is quickly discarded and removed from our brains (Harvard Health Publishing, 2024).

Sensory Memory

afancher2 — 2024-09-03 23:28:13 UTC

Sensory memory consists of information just experienced through the five senses and can be categorized into five different sensory memories (Psychology Today, 2024). They are haptic (touch), echoic (sound), iconic (sight), olfactory (sound), and gustatory (taste) (Perera, 2023).

The Triune Brain Model and Trauma

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:35:41 UTC

The brain model, introduced by Paul D. MacLean in the 1960s, comprises the reptilian complex, the limbic system, and the neocortex (PsychCentral, 2024). During traumatic experiences, the brain deactivates unnecessary systems of the mammalian and neo-mammalian structures, shifting focus to the reptilian brain (PsychCentral, 2024). The autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, hunger, and thirst are managed by the brain, which also controls the fight, flight, or freeze survival responses. When the brain fails to revert to a relaxed state, it remains in constant survival mode, a condition known as PTSD (PsychCentral, 2024).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:37:02 UTC

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that may arise following a traumatic event and where our brain is trying to protect us from a traumatic memory (PMC Connect, 2023). Traumatic memories are typically disorganized and stored as breaks and gaps. Research indicates that 19-38% of individuals who were sexually abused as children experience memory loss as a result of PTSD. (PMC Connect, 2023).

PTSD Symptoms

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:37:23 UTC

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) some symptoms of PTSD are:

rage
anxiety
irritability
flashbacks
nightmares
panic attacks
memory issues
trouble making decisions
difficulties in thinking, concentrating, or learning (PsychCentral, 2024).

Mindfulness Mediation

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:39:13 UTC

Mindfulness is the practice of cultivating a deep, non-judgmental awareness of our emotions, sensations, and feelings (APA, 2019). It aids in focusing on a single aspect at a time and cultivates a deep appreciation for the present moment and studies have demonstrated that mindfulness enhances the density of the hippocampus (APA, 2019).

Awareness Mediation

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:39:21 UTC

In awareness mediation, our heightened self-awareness is utilized to deepen our understanding of the mind's workings, enabling us to make more informed decisions and respond to difficult situations with greater consideration.

Activating Background Knowledge

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:42:31 UTC

Having a solid foundation of background knowledge can enhance our working memory and facilitate schema-based learning, allowing new information to be more readily assimilated into the neocortex. Strategies that encourage background knowledge memory include KWL charts, graphic organizers, and table talk activities (DiTullio, 2021).

Retrieval Practice

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:43:54 UTC

flashcards
writing a summary
writing down the main points
exit tickets
Kahoot
Quizlet

Contextualized Learning

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:44:22 UTC

Contextualized learning occurs when the learning material is relevant to the student and involves interactive activities (DiTullio, 2021).

Examples would be:
Turn and talk to a partner
Demonstration
Hands-on
Draw a picture

Reference Page

afancher2 — 2024-09-04 04:59:22 UTC

Memory Transfer

afancher2 — 2024-09-05 00:55:28 UTC

Memory transfer involves the examination of how learning acquired in one context can be applied in a different form across various situations (Sousa, 2022). Transfer is central to problem-solving, creative thinking, and all higher mental processes, as well as to innovations and artistic creations (Sousa, 2022).