Retention of concepts is the struggle of many students. This is frustrating for teachers who experience students forgetting what they were previously taught. Forgetting is a natural function of the brain’s wiring. The most frequent reason for forgetting is encoding failure, as information may not reach the brain’s memory bank. This is often due to students losing focus during lessons.
As a student, the brain is continuously working to process and retain fresh knowledge, which causes older information to fade away. To retain the new information, practice is crucial. Fortunately, uncomplicated methods can aid students in comprehending and recollecting material.
Retention of concepts and Learning
Research has shown that retention and learning are connected to different types of memory. The processing and organization of information by the brain are influenced by perceived sensations. Sensory memory is also known as working memory. Various factors determine whether the information is transferred from working memory to long-term memory. Students often forget concepts because they are not applied or practiced. If concepts are not practiced, they are not stored in long-term memory.
Strategies that Work
Engaging students with various teaching methods helps students retain concepts.
- The process of students engaging in teaching each other increases retention.
- To transfer information from working memory to long-term memory, it is recommended to revisit the material later.
- Practice tests facilitate review and practice. They are beneficial for retention and can alleviate student stress.
- Incorporating images into lesson materials can improve memory retention, especially when students need to recall information later.
- Retention can be improved by linking new ideas and materials to previously acquired knowledge. This emphasizes the importance of making connections between past and present learning.
Retaining material is crucial in comprehending and learning concepts. Students can retain new information by utilizing different techniques and taking practice tests.
