{"id":18254,"date":"2022-09-21T17:09:25","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T16:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings-new\/?page_id=18254"},"modified":"2023-11-16T12:56:36","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T12:56:36","slug":"memory-and-processing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/educational-psychology\/resources\/devon-psychology-in-action\/memory-and-processing\/","title":{"rendered":"Memory and processing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-do-we-mean-by-memory-and-processing\">What do we mean by memory and processing?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-psychology-helps-us-to-understand-memory-and-processing\">How psychology helps us to understand memory and processing: <\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#awake\">AWAKE<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#top-tips-to-help-children-and-young-people\">Top tips to help children and young people<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#moving-things-into-the-long-term-memory-encoding\">Moving things into the long-term memory (encoding)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#retrieving-information-from-the-long-term-memory\">Retrieving information from the long-term memory<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#managing-working-memory-load\">Managing working memory load<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#five-fab-facts-about-memory\">Five fab facts about memory:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"dcc-documents-cpt-fixed dccdocs-sticky dccdocs-hidden\">\r\n    <div class=\"grid-container\">\r\n        <div class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x\">\r\n            <div class=\"cell medium-12\">\r\n                <a class=\"back-to-top hide-for-print\" href=\"#content\"><svg class=\"app-c-back-to-top__icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 13 17\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 0L0 6.5 1.4 8l4-4v12.7h2V4l4.3 4L13 6.4z\"><\/path><\/svg> Contents<\/a>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:41.333%\"><div class=\"document-meta-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_b49ff9276d738b00b1444202c65666ce\"><div class=\" dcc-documents-meta\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><p class=\"dcc-documents-published\"><span>Published<\/span> <time datetime=\"2022-09-21T17:09:25+00:00\">21\/09\/2022 5:09pm<\/time><\/p><p class=\"dcc-documents-updated\"><span>Last Updated<\/span> <time datetime=\"2023-11-16T12:56:36+00:00\">16\/11\/2023 12:56pm<\/time><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:58.666%\"><div class=\"document-download-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_8b35d8653c10148ce05a0968b802d299\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\" dcc-documents-downloads hide-for-print\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><div class=\"content-container\"><div class=\"content-column download-copy\"><h2 class=\"dcc-documents-title\">Document resources<\/strong><\/h2><p class=\"dcc-documents-intro\">These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-column download-button\"><ul class=\"dcc-documents-widget-dropdown dcc-documents-widget-menu\"><li class=\"dcc-documents-widget-is-dropdown\"><button class=\"button secondary dcc-documents-widget-noarrow dcc-documents-widget-button dcc-documents-widget-download-button\" >Download<\/button><ul id=\"\" class=\"dcc-documents-widget-vertical dcc-documents-widget-menu dcc-documents-widget-is-submenu\" data-disable-hover=\"true\" data-click-open=\"true\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/devoncc.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/PublicDocs\/Education\/EemSpI_GEYROu2z3ujsWJ8cBSaBRbsoNOxs1s15B-KbIaw?e=yk8J73\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"dcc-documents-widget-text\"><span>Memory and processing (Document)<\/span><\/span><span class=\"dcc-documents-widget-size\">162KB<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-do-we-mean-by-memory-and-processing\">What do we mean by memory and processing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Memory can be separated into 3 stores:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sensory memory<\/strong> is a very short-term (less than a second) memory store for information being processing by the sense organs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Working memory<\/strong> is often thought of as a mental workspace, like a notepad that we can use to store important information in the course of our mental activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Long-term memory<\/strong> consists of memories stored over an extended period of time. Long term memory can include skills (like bike riding) as well as memory for facts and events.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-psychology-helps-us-to-understand-memory-and-processing\">How psychology helps us to understand memory and processing: <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The diagram below shows the multi-store model of memory.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"dcc-infographic-block\" id=\"block_18bf8ddb2c5227406b1f2f856eb02227\"><img decoding=\"async\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"longdesc-return-18255\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings?longdesc=18255&#038;referrer=18254\" aria-describedby=\"longdesc-link-wp-image-18255\" width=\"800\" height=\"316\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/166\/2022\/09\/Untitled-design-19-e1663776534706-800x316.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18255\" alt=\"Diagram showing the multi-store model of memory\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/166\/2022\/09\/Untitled-design-19-e1663776534706-800x316.png 800w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/166\/2022\/09\/Untitled-design-19-e1663776534706-640x253.png 640w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/166\/2022\/09\/Untitled-design-19-e1663776534706-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/166\/2022\/09\/Untitled-design-19-e1663776534706-768x303.png 768w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/166\/2022\/09\/Untitled-design-19-e1663776534706.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings?longdesc=18255&amp;referrer=18254\" id=\"longdesc-return-18255\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"awake\">AWAKE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A mnemonic to help us understand the model above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A<\/strong>ttention. This is the first step in remembering something. We need to make sure that children focus on what is important and are not distracted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>W<\/strong>orking memory. The working memory has limited capacity and varies between children. The amount of information given needs to be managed to avoid overload.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A<\/strong>ctive processing. Children need lots of practice at regular intervals, and to be asked questions to make them think deeply about a topic. This helps them develop longer lasting and stronger memories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>K<\/strong>nowledge. In order for children to retain new information, they need to have good understanding and make links between new and old learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>E<\/strong>xercises. The brain can learn to retrieve information with practise. Children need lots of activities to practise retrieving and applying their knowledge.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top-tips-to-help-children-and-young-people\">Top tips to help children and young people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"moving-things-into-the-long-term-memory-encoding\">Moving things into the long-term memory (encoding)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Make sure the information is understood<\/strong>. Information that is organised and makes sense is easier to lodge in the long-term memory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Think deeply (elaborative learning)<\/strong>. Talk about the learning, ask questions, write and draw or act out the concepts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do things \u2018little and often\u2019<\/strong>. Sometimes referred to as distributed practice. This involves doing little bits of rehearsal often, instead of a lot all at once.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Link it<\/strong>. Make links with prior knowledge and future learning. Practise using knowledge in ways that are meaningful to the child.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For research on the above: <a href=\"https:\/\/educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk\/public\/files\/Publications\/Cognitive_science_approaches_in_the_classroom_-_A_review_of_the_evidence.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">Cognitive_science_approaches_in_the_classroom_-_A_review_of_the_evidence.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"retrieving-information-from-the-long-term-memory\">Retrieving information from the long-term memory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Revisit learning<\/strong>. Revisiting topics regularly throughout the term refreshes learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quiz and practise testing<\/strong>. For this to be most effective, it has to be done at low-stakes (which means it isn\u2019t increasing stress) and spaced out. Short quizzes are better than a long test \u2013 keep it fun.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mix things up<\/strong>. Sometimes called interleaving, this is where either the types of problem or different subjects are mixed up. This helps keep things fresh.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use memorisation techniques<\/strong> (such as mnemonics!).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A guide to memory techniques can be found here; <a href=\"https:\/\/intranet.birmingham.ac.uk\/as\/libraryservices\/library\/asc\/documents\/public\/Short-Guide-Memory-Techniques.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">short-guide-memory-techniques.pdf (birmingham.ac.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"managing-working-memory-load\">Managing working memory load<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chunk information<\/strong> into manageable bits of learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scaffold learning<\/strong> by using diagrams, pictures and check lists to aid remembering.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use short and simple phrases<\/strong> when giving instructions and show how to do things.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Teach children<\/strong> how to take and use notes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A classroom guide to working memory can be found here; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/WM-classroom-guide.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">WM-classroom-guide.pdf (cam.ac.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"five-fab-facts-about-memory\">Five fab facts about memory:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It has been proven by scientific research that the human brain starts to remember things from the womb. The memory starts to work just 20 weeks after conception.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Short-term memory only lasts 20 to 30 seconds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The human brain\u2019s storage capacity is virtually limitless.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caffeine only helps to increase alertness, it doesn\u2019t maintain memory performances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sleep is significant to memory. Sleep helps in the retrieval and storage of long-term memories.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What do we mean by memory and processing? Memory can be separated into 3 stores: How psychology helps us to understand memory and processing: The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2471,"featured_media":0,"parent":18176,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"longdocument-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-18254","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"updated":"","dccdocs_documents":null,"section-guidance":"","sections":null},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-30 18:30:50","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2471"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18254"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23496,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18254\/revisions\/23496"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}