MEMORY STRATEGIES IN EDUCATION
When children learn they need to have the information given to them in a form that works with the way their brain operates. It makes sense therefore as a teacher to understand memory systems in the mind so that when you prepare lessons you can make sure you are working with the memory and not against it. Here are some really useful tips on how to present information so that brains can soak it up and store it easily.
CHUNKING UNITS OF INFORMATION
It is easier to memorize information when you break it up into small chunks. Brains can store about 7 units of information in the short term memory at one time before it overflows and things are lost. Make sure when you are teaching something new that you link it to something they know already and also only give them 3 – 5 small pieces of information at first. For example if you are teaching a foreign language group words into categories like household items or occupations and only give about 5 words to learn/learning session.
VISUALISATION AND RUNNING A MOVIE IN YOUR HEAD
To visualize means to see an image in your head using your imagination. What is interesting is that visualization can help you learn almost anything. Here is an example. Let's say the topic is the water cycle. Ask your students to imagine a cloud and then ask them to see it getting bigger and heavier. Guide them through a ‘movie’ in their heads as they imagine the cloud bursting and the rain hits the ground and flows toward streams and rivers and onwards to the ocean. Then they can see the sun coming out and heating up the water, evaporating it and then the clouds begin to form again. This little activity will increase their recall of the information by over half!
TALKING AND DISCUSSING
Here's a strategy that's easy and fun to use, especially if the students like to talk! Ask them to form discussion groups in class regularly so that they can review with each other what they have learnt already. Reviewing helps the brain refresh and talking helps them hear the topic from different view points. Ask them to tell their parents or carers about what they have learnt during the day. They can go home and talk about history projects and as they do that they will reinforce their learning even more. That is what the brain like to do.
DESIGNING SENTENCES
Do you remember learning the silly sentence "Every good boy does fine" from music class? That was the way people remembered the different sequence of notes. You can use this in the class for many other things too. Ask the students to make up nonsense sentences so they can remember a list of names they need to learn. For example the sentence "My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" is used to remember the planets. Students love to make up their own sentences for this kind of activity and the laughter tand fun they have doing this will also help them remember even better because it is associated with a nice memory! Win – Win!.