Memory Models
(Sent to Faculty, Oct. 2017)
Hi all,
On some Friday in September of last year I was sitting in my Research in Education class trying to contribute to a group discussion of pre-experimental vs. quasi experimental design. Unfortunately, I was distracted. I was excited to head to the airport to head back home for the first time during the year. I was so excited to see everyone that I couldn’t really focus on the discussion. Eventually, I had to work even more weeks later to reinforce the material from that day. What was happening in my mind that Friday? My effective working memory was reduced due to being distracted by my upcoming trip.
Consider the image of a simplified memory model from Willingham (2009). Information coming from your senses is processed in working memory (sometimes called short-term memory). The size of your working memory is limited; depending on research you may find somewhere between 3-8 “chunks” of information. You process information in your limited working memory, engaging with your long-term memory. This back-and-forth between working and long-term memory is the key to both creating and strengthening knowledge. Sitting in my research class, my working memory was reduced because some of the limited space was consumed with the upcoming flight.
What does this mean for our classroom? Think about a student distracted by something occurring outside the classroom. Think about a student trying to keep 7 distinct characters in mind as well as the plot (hint: it’s not possible, at least at first). Or 6 verb endings as well as the verb stems all at once. Think about what happens to you or a student when a push notification pops up on a screen, such as an email or text message.
My request(s):
- Be aware during your next class of what you put on the board. How many pieces of information are you expecting students to work with at one time? Write up a quick, one-paragraph summary and send me your thoughts.
Reference:
Willingham, D. T. (2009). Why don't students like school?: A cognitive scientist answers questions about how the mind works and what it means for the classroom.