Difficulty: Short-Term Memory

4 Keywords: Dyslexia, Specific Learning Difficulties, Learning Differences, Learning Disabilities

The BBC showed a documentary on 'How to Improve Your Memory' this has been taken from YouTube with a summary on the BBC Science and Nature website. The video comes in two parts - Access to the second part.

"Short-term memory is that part of memory corresponding to your active consciousness or awareness. (Mayer 2003) Your short term memory is a system for temporarily storing and managing information required to carry out complex cognitive tasks such as learning, reasoning, and comprehension. A portion of short term memory can be used for performing mental manipulations such as mental arithmetic – this portion is referred to as working memory. The storage of information in short term memory is limited and only lasts a short amount of time." (Curriculum, Technology, & Education Reform (CTER) WikEd

There may be links between poor short-term memory and dyslexia, specific learning difficulties, learning differences or learning disabilities affecting written language skills, retention of information and recall.

SCIPS - impact of memory and recall difficulties on learning and teaching

Tasks

• Task: Generating ideas and planning
  • Issue: Forgetting ideas for assignments or missing appointments
    • Strategy: Smartphone to help with memory skills
• Task: Virtual Learning Environment Usage
  • Issue: Blackboard - Resources
    • Strategy: Blackboard Quizzes for overlearning
  • Issue: Video on Blackboard
    • Strategy: Video clips from Blackboard to practice rooms
• Task: Academic writing
  • Issue: Quick access to tools - Office 2007
    • Strategy: Microsoft Word 2007 toolbar additions
• Task: Note Taking
  • Issue: Remembering numbers, web addresses etc.
    • Strategy: Smartphone camera as a memory aid
  • Issue: Notetaking and listening
    • Strategy: Livescribe for note taking
• Task: Research and Revision
  • Issue: References from the internet
    • Strategy: Google Book Search
  • Issue: Recording useful information
    • Strategy: CapturaTalk and the HTC mobile phone
  • Issue: Recording lectures for revision
    • Strategy: Speed up recordings on a digital recorder
  • Issue: Listening and finding things in long recordings
    • Strategy: Index marks and using earphones with a recorder.
  • Issue: Remembering short sections of books
    • Strategy: References and text captured on mobile phone
  • Issue: Remembering tasks
    • Strategy: Notes as reminders on mobile background.
  • Issue: Finding notes for revision
    • Strategy: OneNote for creating notes for revision
• Task: Blogs, Wikis and Personal Reflections
  • Issue: Reflecting on academic work
    • Strategy: Blogging to reflect on my PhD
• Task: Podcasts / Vodcasts (Audio / Video)
  • Issue: Remembering lectures
    • Strategy: Impatica PowerPoints with audio
• Task: Reading items on the screen
  • Issue: Reports do not help me remember things
    • Strategy: Podcasts to aid memory
• Task: Presentations
  • Issue: Spelling when on placement and presenting
    • Strategy: Blackberry for medical spell checking