What Handicap?

This video provides an example of using keywords to help remember a word/concept. Notice the examples in the video.

During a training I recently attended the example was provided of a student trying to learn the states and capitals.

This is the example from the video;

Topeka=state capital

Kansas is the state.

Topeka reminds me of toes.

Kansas reminds me of cans.

Therefore, I see a can with the words/label of toes

Cans+toes

The capital of Kansas is Topeka.

As stated in the video, this can be used for areas such as science, vicabulary, states/capitals, foreign language.

According to research, this can increase scores by 1 standard deviation,.

Hippocampus Damage

Sometimes people with damaage to the hippocampus may appear like they have a learning disability but that is not the case.
Think about this......
For the hippocampus to function properly and people to remember things the hippocampus needs the following;
Oxygen
Glucose  (It needs balanced levels, too much or too little is not good)
Sleep      (Information is stored during sleep + the brain may actually rehearse motor movements)
No Cortisol  (This is the stree hormone that we hear so much about)
No electricity  (Long Term Memory loss can take place from being tazed just 1 time)

N-Back Memory Technique

You can also use this technique with a regular deck of playing cards.
For this example the person is to remember 2 cards back.
The person is to remember the card that was a given number of cards back.
Example Sequence: 6-King-4-8-2
When the 4 comes up, they say "6" because it is 2 cards back.
When the 8 card comes up, they say King because it is 2 cards back.

To learn how to play, it is suggested that you rehearse my softly saying on saying 6-King until the next card is flipped.
Then when the next card is flipped, you would "say" King-4. until the 8 is flipped.

Another variation is stringing word. Each player has to remember their word + the words the previous players provided.
I remember the abphabet game that did this.
A=apple
B=balloon
C=cat
D=dog

Player 1 would say apple
Player 2 would say balloon, apple
Player 1 would say cat, balloon, apple
Player 2 would say dog, cat, balloon, apple

According to research, this will increase working memory performance which will equal to high test score + the ability to remember/access information related to a given subject.

Andi Bell and Memory

As we get older, some people have difficulty membering things. However, as teachers, we have also noticed that some of our students can't remember things from day to day.

The following, is an interesting way to facilitate memory.

ABC News, Chimps vs Humans

A favorite television show these days is "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?". There is even a board game by the same name.

My question for you is, "Are you smarter than a chimp?". Of course.......

We have language but does our knnowledge of language hurt us on speed or memory test?

You be the judge.

Literacy Place, Week of January 23, 2012

DIRECTIONS:

Watch the video