MEMORY LEARNING & IMPROVING CONCENTRATION

JULY 19, 2017
AL-BIRUNI 1
INSTRUCTOR : EN. MD KAIL @ IKHWAN BIN MOHD NOR
            (Timbalan Ketua Pegawai Psikologi)

The first four levels(from top)in the learning pyramid are passive learning methods while the bottom three levels are participatory teaching methods.The learning pyramid demonstrates that the best method for learning retention are the base of the pyramid.

What is brain and what exactly is there in the human brain?

Brain is an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the coordinating center of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity.

Significant differences in brains of men and women: How do they actually differ?

What's the difference between the right brain and the left brain? 
Although equal in size, these two sides of human brain are not the same,and do not carry out the same functions.The left hemisphere is responsible for controlling the right side of the body.On the other hand, the right hemisphere coordinates the left side of the body.

What is memory?

Memory is the ability to remember information ,experiences and people.The are three different types of memory. They are Sensory memory(SM),Short-term / working memory (STM) and Long-term memory (LTM).

✨Sensory Memory
Sensory Memory is the shortest-term element of memory. It is ability to retain impressions of sensory information after the original stimuli have ended.
✨Short-Term Memory
Short-Term Memory is the information that a person is currently thinking about or is aware of.It is also called primary or active memory.Recent events and sensory data such as sounds are stored in short-term memory.It often encompasses events over a period anywhere from 30 seconds to several days.
✨Long-Term Memory
Long-Term Memory is the final stage of the multi-store memory model proposed by Atkinson-Shiffrin, providing the lasting retention of information and skills. If someone can remember something that happened more than just a few moment ago whether it occurred just hours ago or decades earlier, then it is a long-term memory.

MEMORY STRATEGIES:
Memory strategies will help student storing and retrieving the information(help to remember and recall).

How forgetting could occur?
1.Inattentive for the information
2.Do not understand the information
3.Cramming(last minute study)
4.Did not have great strategies

Ways to improve your memory:
1.Massed practice vs Spaced practice

• Massed practice is not good.Example include, cramming which involves studying all the materials at one time. If students did that, they do not have time to understand, remember, and organize the reading materials.  
• Spaced practice is good and recommended.It involves space time over some period of time for studying. Spaced practice or distributed practice allows time for the information to consolidate in the long-term memory. Taking breaks between learning sessions allow students to think and organize the information.  

2.Break reading material down for some period of   time.As an example, focus on 2 chapters per day, not all chapters   a day before the exam.

3.Rehearsal which is repeat the information many times.

4.Elaboration strategies: 

• Acronyms or catchwords

     e.g.   MAS - Malaysian Airline System

            UiTM - Universtiti Teknologi MARA

• Acrostics or catchphrases

     e.g.   carnivores - animal eaters

            herbivores - plant eaters

            omnivores - animal and plant eaters

5.MNEMONICS

🟆 Memory tricks

🟆 Methods to remember using what we like and what we have in our     environment

🟆 Make it funny

🟆 Examples of Mnemonics: 

  - Michael Jackson Kill His Brother In University              
  -(M-merah J-jingga K-kuning H-hijau B-biru I-indigo U-ungu)

Causes of poor concentration:

• Not paying attention
• Lack of interest
• Lack of motivation
• Distraction from others
• Uncomfortable environment
• Physiology matters – illness, tiredness
• Psychology matters – personal problems, worries, anxieties

Strategies for improving concentration:

• Use motivational and organizational methods
• Create a positive learning environment
• Deal with internal distractions
• Use active learning methods
• Match your learning style to the task
• Watch your concentration

SQ3R: SURVEY-QUESTION-READ-RECITE-REVIEW

Thank you for reading!