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"Which teaching strategy works best?" This is a question that many educators ask my colleagues at McREL. It's an earnest question, but it's a bit like walking into a gym full of workout equipment and asking a trainer, "So which exercise is best?" The answer, of course, depends on where you are in your fitness regime and what you're trying to accomplish."
Are you interested in learning more about how the brain works and how different teaching strategies may be best for specific situations? This post looks at:
* Short term memory
* Working memory
* Long term memory
The short version is that short term memory is what initially puts something in our memory, but it requires a hook of some sort. Research tells us that a positive learning environment and activities that bring on positive emotions help.
Working memory come next Information that is in short term memory must be moved quickly to working memory (or it tends to go poof!). When thinking of working memory you must also consider cognitive load.
Long term memory is the final step, but moving information from short term memory to long term memory takes time and repetition. It is best if the repetition is spaced out over time (so cramming the night before an exam is not the best way to remember information you will also need for a final exam weeks or months later).
This is great information not only for students but also for teachers (and families and friends).