The Importance Of Working Memory Capacity Flashcards
The race car driver gets to the finish line quickly, but everything’s a blur. The hiker is slower, but can touch the leaves, smell the pine with a much richer experience.
True
What is the real name for the working memory octopus?
Central executive.
Where is the central executive found in the brain?
Front of the brain
How does the central executive keep thoughts temporarily in working memory?
By throwing it to the back of your brain, and then bounces the focus of attention between the hearing and seeing part of the brain and then it ends up at the front again.
T or F . As long as the information is lobbing back and forth between the front and back of the brain it stays alive in working memory.
T
What’s the difference between working memory neurons and long term memory neurons?
Working memory neurons can’t hold information for long and long term neurons can hold information for a long time.
T or F.. Information in your long term memory can assist and boost your working memory.
T…. This is why we need to build so much background knowledge in our students long term memory.
In a typical class of 30 7-8 year olds, how many would have the average working memory of..
A 4 year old?
An 11 year old?
At least 3 for year olds
3ish 11 year olds (which is close to adult levels)£@
What is a good strategy for directions for kids with lower than average working memories?
Post written directions.
Why might a student leave it out repeat words in their writing?
Diminished working memory.
What are some good strategies for working with students who have lesser capacity working memories?
- Be brief and use simple words with directions.
- Make sure students are looking at you when giving directions.
- Give instructions one at a time.
- Post instructions.
- Use mnemonics.
- Give access to spellings if unfamiliar words.
While it is impossible to grow a working memory, how can we strengthen it?
Building long term memory..o
T or F .. If a person with lesser capacity working memory creates and strengthens neural links in long term memory, those links can extend their writing y memory…ON THAT TOPIC. (Domain specificity)
True
The assistance working memory gets from prior knowledge stored in long term memory, the easier it is for them to learn new material.
True
Why would it be easier for an American to rewrite all the letters in.. The Green penguin is eating an apple… Compared to Sure! In Russian, “The green penguin is eating an apple” translates to:
Зелёный пингвин ест яблоко.
We have background knowledge of English not Russian. Our working memory requires assistance from our long term memory.
What does background knowledge do in the quadratus mnemonic?
It increases the size of the balls.
What do neuroscientists call the balls of information in the working memory?
chunks
What does building background knowledge do to the balls of information (chunks)?
Makes them bigger. So you can’t have more arms on your octopus (more ideas) but your ideas can have more information in them.
What does researcher John Sweller, known for his work on cognitive load, say about background information and working memory?
The intricate relationship between working memory and long-term memory is easily the most critical factor in human cognition.
