I've noticed some of my students, especially in my Biology 12 class are so focused on what exactly they need to know to do well on a test. I am hoping to shift this mentality to the actual learning of the content, not just memorizing and regurgitating the information. To do this involves working memory. Working memory helps kids hold onto information long enough to use it, and it plays an important role in concentration and in following instructions. Working memory is the key to learning, it is the sticky note in our brain that we use to keep track of information and what we need to do. The following are strategies that can be used in the classroom to enhance our working memory:
- Repeat after me - Repeating or paraphrasing information in their own words can help increase working memory. Listening and speaking about what they learned activates components of working memory.
- Make a game of it - Everyone likes to play games, and certain games like uno can build working memory. Design learning activities based on memory games to help reinforce key concepts.
- Emphasize relevance - Put information into context and focus on relevant and important information. It is important that students are able to pick out what information is important and what is irrelevant.
- Hone short term recall through practice - Provide learning activities that involve working with bits of information. For example, word problems in math require students to identify, remember, and process data.
- Visualize it - Learning to picture components of a math problem in your mind is a strategy that engages and enhances multiple components of working memory.
- Teach it to learn it - Teaching involves engaging working memory. Activities involving peer teaching or learning in small groups allows students to enhance their learning by applying their working memory to explaining the information and teaching new content to others.