Peter Horton - Educator

Unit 11. Memory: Short, Long Term, Innate learning, and The Input-Output theory

• Why is it Important for learning?
• Can I Improve my Memory?

Welcome, 7th graders, to the fascinating world of memory! Today, we’re going to explore why our memories are like superpowers that help us learn new things.

Our brain is like a vast, fantastic filing cabinet. It stores all the things we learn and experience. This cabinet has two unique drawers: one for short-term and long-term memory.

Imagine your short-term memory

as a small, quick-access drawer where you keep things you need right away, like the answer to a pop quiz or what you read a few minutes ago. But be careful, this drawer is tiny, so things don’t stay there for too long unless you move them to the more spacious drawer.

Long-term memory

In contrast, long-term memory is like the big drawer at the bottom. It’s where you keep things you want to remember for a long time, such as your best friend’s name, how to ride a bike, or your favorite song. To put it simply, to get things into this drawer, you must practice or think about them a lot.

Furthermore, understanding how memory works is not just interesting; in fact, it’s empowering! It’s like having a secret superpower that can help you learn better. For instance, if you review your notes daily, you’re not just studying; rather, you’re strategically moving that information from the short-term drawer to the long-term one. As a result, when it’s time for a test, you’ll confidently remember what you studied!

In addition, for teachers, understanding memory can help them teach better. By doing so, they can create fun and meaningful activities that make information stick in your long-term memory. Moreover, they might also remind you of things you learned before so that you can connect new ideas to what’s already in the big drawer.

Therefore, remembering is a big part of learning, and the more you practice, the better you get at keeping that information safe in your brain’s awesome filing cabinet!

How can students improve their memory for school?

Now, let’s dive into some practical tips that can supercharge your memory for school. These are strategies that you can use in your everyday school life to boost your memory power and ace those tests!

Stay Organized:

Keep your notes neat and your study space tidy. It’s easier to remember stuff when it’s not all jumbled up.

Use Mnemonics:

These are like little fun tricks to help you remember things. It’s like creating a secret code that only you know! For example, to remember the order of operations in math, you might use “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction). It’s like a fun puzzle that makes learning more exciting!

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat:

To begin with, going over something repeatedly helps move it from short-term to long-term memory. It’s much like practicing a song until you can sing it perfectly without looking at the lyrics. For instance, if you review something about seven to nine times, it will stay in your short-term memory for only a few days or weeks before fading away. However, for information to remain in your long-term memory, you need to see, read, listen to, or use it around 75 times. In other words, frequent exposure and review help your brain store the information for months—or even years.

Therefore, it’s best to study a topic, review it after a short break, and then revisit it again later. This process, known as spaced repetition, prevents information from escaping your memory and strengthens long-term retention.

Practical Memory Tips

Furthermore, there are several effective strategies you can use to boost your memory power:

Teach Someone Else: If you can explain what you’ve learned to another person, it means you truly understand it. Additionally, teaching helps reinforce the knowledge in your own brain.

Take Breaks: Your brain needs rest to stay focused. Thus, taking short breaks while studying helps you maintain energy and concentration.

Get Plenty of Sleep: Sleep is like a magic reset button—it allows your brain to sort and store everything you learned during the day. Consequently, make sure you get enough rest each night.

Eat Healthy Foods: Foods like fish, nuts, and blueberries are known as “brain foods.” As a result, they can improve focus and sharpen your memory.

Stay Active: Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which enhances both memory and thinking skills.

Make Connections: Try linking new information to things you already know. By doing so, you build bridges between old and new knowledge, making it easier to remember.

Use Visual Aids: Drawing pictures, diagrams, or charts can help you recall information more effectively. After all, seeing ideas visually can make them stick better.

Embracing Your Unique Learning Style

Remember, everyone’s brain works differently—just like you! Therefore, don’t be afraid to experiment with different memory techniques to discover which ones suit you best. Ultimately, the goal is not just to memorize but to understand and enjoy the process of learning.

Connecting to Learning Theories

In connection with this, two important ideas explain how people learn: innate learning and learned experience.

To start with, innate learning refers to the natural knowledge or abilities that organisms are born with, without needing outside instruction. For example, animals instinctively know how to migrate or perform mating rituals because these behaviors are part of their genetic makeup. Similarly, in humans, innate learning can be seen in reflexes or the early stages of language development.

Recognizing the significance of innate learning is essential because it highlights the instinctual skills that shape how we learn and behave. Moreover, it provides valuable insight into the biological foundation of learning, suggesting that certain abilities are pre-programmed into our DNA.

In Summary

In conclusion, memory is a powerful tool that grows stronger with consistent practice, healthy habits, and meaningful connections. By combining effective strategies—like reviewing regularly, teaching others, and staying active—with an understanding of how innate and learned abilities work, students can unlock their full learning potential. Ultimately, learning how to remember is not just about studying harder—it’s about studying smarter!

The Input and Output theory

The Input and Output Theory in language education is more than just an abstract idea; rather, it is a practical framework that can greatly improve how learners acquire and use a new language. To begin with, the theory emphasizes two essential processes: input, which involves absorbing language through listening and reading, and output, which focuses on using language through speaking and writing. In essence, effective language learning happens when students are both immersed in the language and actively engaged in expressing it.

Furthermore, input serves as the foundation for understanding, while output strengthens memory and promotes mastery through practice. Therefore, a balanced mix of both leads to deeper comprehension and greater fluency.

In addition, teaching strategies such as reading aloud, shadow reading, and copying texts combine these two processes effectively. For example, when students hear and read the language (input) and then speak or write it (output), they reinforce what they’ve learned in meaningful ways. As a result, learners become more confident, fluent, and accurate in using English.

Notably, the success of students who began to think and even dream in English clearly demonstrates the power of balancing input and output activities. Ultimately, this approach proves that true language mastery comes not only from understanding the language but also from actively using it in daily life.