How to improve memory
What is working memory?
Do you or your child have trouble remembering information and want to improve your memory?
Or perhaps you have a good memory for things that are meaningful (for instance, something that happened on a family trip years ago) but have trouble retaining learnt information?
Or maybe what you do remember seems jumbled and out of sequence?
This may indicate difficulty with working memory.
Working memory’s importance
Working memory is one of the brain’s executive functions.
It’s like a post-it note in your brain – it holds information so you can work with that information to carry out a task. Working memory also helps you organise and save new information for long term memory.
Working memory in the classroom
An everyday example of using working memory in the classroom is the teacher providing a multistep instruction like “Get out your maths book and turn to page 56. You have 15 minutes to work on questions 1 to 4.”
How poor working memory can affect a child
Too much information coming in
Didn’t write down homework questions
Unable to complete homework, abandons the task
Working memory in everyday life
In everyday life as an adult, you often have to remember a number of steps to complete a task.
For example, you may be lost and have to stop and ask for directions.
“Take the first left, then go through the roundabout and make a right at Colins Street. It’s about 50 metres down the road after the service station.”
Or you might have to remember a lot of steps to complete a task at work.
How poor working memory can affect an adult
Too much information coming in
Only remembered/wrote down one action from the staff meeting
Has to work late to complete a forgotten task before the deadline
Too much information coming in
Only remembered/wrote down one action from the staff meeting
Has to work late to complete a forgotten task before the deadline
Working memory is very important in being able to carry out daily tasks and it’s crucial for success in the classroom and at work.
Can children improve working memory?
Yes! Just because a child comes into the classroom with poor working memory, it doesn’t mean things need to stay that way. Working memory can be improved with special games designed by neuroscientists.
Can adults improve working memory?
Also yes! Our brains are amazing and can change at almost any age (called neuroplasticity). As long as you use the right training tool, you can improve your working memory.
In fact, training to improve memory may just be the key to improving intelligence!
That’s right – in 2008, psychologist Susanne Jaeggi conducted a ground-breaking research study; contrary to the long-held belief that one’s intelligence was fixed, Jaeggi’s research showed evidence that working memory training actually improved participants’ fluid intelligence (the ability to adapt to new situations and solve novel problems rather than accumulating knowledge).
This is revolutionary research as fluid intelligence is considered one of the most important factors in learning. It is also closely related to educational and professional success, particularly in challenging learning and working environments.
With Jaeggi’s research implying that a person could increase their IQ by one full point per hour of training, it’s more important than ever for us all to understand working memory and how it impacts our performance at work and our children’s success in the classroom.
How to improve memory?
To improve working memory, we need to target the cause of working memory problems with a three pronged approach which includes skill building strategies.
If you google “working memory help” you’ll see a lot of strategies (e.g. “break up instructions” and “work on visualisation skills”).
These are compensatory strategies – they are important, but they do not improve working memory skills and are not a long term solution.
Most health professionals now agree that a three-pronged approach to intervention is most effective, involving a combination of individualised compensatory strategies, learning environment modifications and skill building strategies.
Sonic Learning’s online working memory programs
Effective working memory programs actively train the ability to remember more information.
Changing the brain can’t be done overnight, but it absolutely can be done. Improving working memory takes daily practice, individualised instruction and engaging exercises to create significant and lasting improvements.
Fortunately there are online programs that can help you improve working memory in an easy and fun way. Sonic Learning’s team of health and education professionals has been successfully using proven neuroscience programs (Fast ForWord and Cogmed) since 2004 to improve working memory.
Fast ForWord
Builds auditory working memory and other critical processing skills.
Most suitable for people who struggle to focus particularly in noisy places or when being given verbal instructions. Very suitable for students with auditory processing, language or reading weaknesses.
Cogmed
Builds visual and auditory working memory
Most suitable for people who do not have language or reading difficulties and whose main difficulties are visual memory, organisational skills and maths.
Key takeaways
Working memory is like your brain’s temporary post-it note
Working memory problems can have a huge impact on school, work and daily life
Working memory can be improved with neuroscience based programs
Free phone consultation with a professional
This free telephone consultation can help to answer any questions you have about our services. At Sonic Learning we are all experienced teachers and health professionals so parents tend to find it very beneficial to be able to discuss their concerns and receive guidance from our team.