TOPIC 5 : MEMORY, LEARNING & IMPROVING CONCENTRATION

1) WHAT IS MEMORY?

Memory is the ability to save and remain the information and experience.

there are steps for human to process something to keep it in our brain. Especially when we tries to remember things in our studies. 

LEARN

 - you need to learn new things so that u will gain knowledge

- when you gain knowledge, you will get information through your senses

REMEMBER

- after you learnt something, you will remembered

- the information will trasfer to another neuron in your nervous system to get to your integrating system which is your brain and spinal cord

ENCODE

- when you remembered something, your brain will save the memory

- when the information has arrive to your integrating system, it will be classify and analysis based on the category

STORE

- when there is memory about the information, your brain will store the information

- after your information has been classified, your integrating system will store the information in hypothalamus

REVIVE THE INFORMATION

- when the memory was created, you will be easier to revise and remember the information

There are 3 types of memories,which is :

• SENSORY MEMORY – numerous incoming information from 5 senses will be stored in sensory memory for an instant.When you pay attention to the stimuli it will go to the short-term memory, but if you not pay attention it would not be last long and may lost

• SHORT-TERM MEMORY – our short term memory have only limited storage.The information must be repeated in order to get information to long-term memory .

• LONG-TERM MEMORY – our long term memory is unlimited and have large storage.If the information is not being used for long time.The information will be lost.

2)WAY TO IMPROVE MEMORY STRATEGIES.

1. Manage your time wisely.

2. Repeat the information many times.

3. Elaboration strategies – association, acronyms and imagery.

4. Organize the material.

5. Comprehension monitoring strategies.

3)WHAT IS CONCENTRATION?

• Concentration is the ability to direct one’s attention in accordance with one’s will. It control of the attention. it is the ability to focus the mind on one subject, object or thought and at the same time exclude from the mind every other unrelated thoughts, ideas, feeling, and sensations.

“but how to concentrate?”

STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE CONCENTRATION

• Use motivational and organizational strategies – create interest in the work, develop a positive attitude toward you work, use goal setting strategies, use time-management strategies.

• Create a positive learning environment – find a better location, reduce multitasking, minimize distractions.

• Deal with internal distractions – deal with personal problems, deal with competing activities.

•  Use active learning strategies (as discussed in improving memory).

•  Match your learning style to the task.

•  Monitor your concentration.

CAUSES OF POOR CONCENTRATION

• Lack of attention.

• Lack of interest.

• Lack of motivation.

• Distraction from others.

• Uncomfortable environment.

• Physiological matters ( Ilness, Tiredness ).

• Psychological matters ( Personal, Problems, Worries, Anxiety ).

4)Reading Text and Study System (SQ3R)

SQ3R is a comprehension strategy that facilitates students think about the text they are reading while they are reading. As a study strategy, SQ3R helps students “get it” the first time they read a text by teaching students how to read and think like an effective reader.

This strategy includes the following five steps (Robinson, 1946 in Adolescence Literacy):

1. Survey : Students review the text to gain initial meaning from the title, subtitle, chapter introduction or lead-in, boldfaced headings, graphs, charts, pictures, the final paragraph or summary and end-of-chapter material (study / discussion questions, vocabulary list). 

2. Question : Students try to form questions based on the preview (survey).  

3. Read : As students read, they need to look for answers to the questions they formed during their preview of the text. These questions, based on the structure of the text, help focus students' reading. 

4. Recite : after each section, pause. Students will attempt to answer questions formed earlier. If students could not answer, then look back and find the answer in the section. Students should recite and rehearse the answers to their questions. Summarize the information.

5. Review : After you have finished reading the whole reading assignment, refer back to each heading. Recall your questions and try to answer the them. If you cannot recall, go back and find the answer. This part is to test yourself.