Transcript How we Learn - Murray State University

Knowledge Basis
Information Processing
Types of Knowledge
 Declarative knowledge – FACTUAL information
 Procedural knowledge – HOW TO – STEPS
 Strategic knowledge – WHEN to APPLY
Knowledge Processes
 Increased knowledge reduces the need to remember a
great deal of information short-term
 Short term memory stores up to 7 bits
 If you don’t use it you loose it!
 Increased knowledge allows more effective USE of the
cognitive processes.
 Increased knowledge reduces the amount of conscious
attention needed to perform some tasks.
Information Processing Capacity
 ATTENTION – being able to attend to relevant and
irrelevant stimuli
 Overexclusive mode (young children) attend to one
stimulus exclusive of all others
 Overinclusive (older children and preadolescents)
attend to many stimuli irrelevant to task
Information Processing Speed
 Evidence suggests speed of processing increases as
children mature; i.e. reaction time studies
Effective Use of Memory
Encoding & Retrieval
 Differences in effective use of the memory system
could be due to the
available mental capacity,
2. the strategies of memory use, or
3. a combination of both
1.
Types of Memory
 Sensory store (1 second or less)
- Holds stimuli briefly for possible processing
- Example – Radio number – you will not recall it
 Short-term store (20 seconds)
- Holds up to seven (7) bits of information for about 20
seconds
- Example – Long enough to dial number
 Long-term store (unlimited)
- Our permanent storehouse of memories, which is
thought to have essentially unlimited capacity.
Effective Memory Use
 Evidence suggests children do NOT use their memory
systems (strategies) as effectively as adults.
 Current research suggests that STRATEGIES of
memory use (NOT capacity) best explain differences
between age groups.
 Implication as teachers – we must teach strategies to
help children learn and remember.
-Teach METACOGNITION – teaching children how to
learn, remember, retain information
-Use best practices to help children learn, use, and apply
information
 What are some of the control processes or memory
strategies that facilitate the movement of information
into memory?
Strategies for Memory
 Rehearsal (say & do)
Teaching children rehearsal strategy in addition to the
skill itself will enhance their skill acquisition.
 Labeling (verbal label-meaningful)
Instructing children to use labels helps recall
 Grouping (Chunking/Organizing)
Strategies for Memory
 Recoding (re-organizing information) – research
indicates children do not do this.
i.e. Balls with backspin, 2 or more items combined
= new term
 Ridiculous Associations
i.e. To learn names associate action or imagery then
substitute words; i.e. for Smith picture a blacksmith
hammering,; for doering picture someone ringing a
doorbell or a door with a ring around it or a bell under
the door frame, get the idea?
“I hear and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I
understand.” Chinese proverb
 Activity
a.
b.
Either verbal or physical activity can be used to encode material
in long-term memory:
Physical activity aides memorization. Teach concept of
around/through having a child move around/through a hoop for
example.
- math manipulatives
- science exploration with magnets, water, colors, etc.
- spelling with bodies, in sandboxes, with shaving cream
- sing songs to memorize lengthy or complex stuff; ie. Hip bone
connected to leg bone, Obama song, presidents, capitals,
Other Memory Strategies
 Meaningfulness – new to old, connections
 Depth of association aids memory
Mnemonic devices work will because they enhance
encodability and retrievability of information.
 Mnemonic Devices (jingles or phrases)
a.
b.
c.
d.
“I before e except after c” - “When two vowels go walking the
first one does the talking”
Acrostic (sentence mnemonic) “The star boarder is always
right.” “The ship left port.”
Acronym (1st letter) B.E.E.F.
Keyword method – isolate a keyword then form an
interesting visual image (used often to teach a foreign
language); i.e. PATO is duck in Portuguese – picture a pot on
a ducks head.