Concentration/Memory
Goals and Objectives
To make students aware of how they can improve their concentration
Help students learn how the memory works
To help students develop concrete ways to use what they know about memory in processing information for classes and tests.
Resources
Chapter 9 pages 189-207 The Confident Student
Memory Box
Memory Principles
Explanation of Memory Principles
Chapter 10 pages 210-230 The Confident Student
How Memory Works Power Point Slides
Ideas and Activities
If you take two days on concentration and memory. The first day I would take about concentration and setting up a good study environment and introduce the ideal of the 10 memory principles. The second day I would emphasize the memory principles and do the memory box.
- Have students read and work exercises in Chapter 9 in The Confident Student before class so that you can discuss finding the best study environment for each student.
- See if students can find ideal study places on campus
- Chapter 10 in The Confident Student is a good introduction to the memory. Have students read and work activities.
- Have students make flashcards for the
10 memory principles. These are crucial in developing study skills that match how each students learns best. (Flashcards use all 10 memory principles)
Have student view Power Point Presentation of present this material to the students in class. Remember that you can download the presentation and make transparencies for you are not teaching in a master classroom.
Do the Memory Box activity. Students love this. The idea is that this activity uses all 10 memory principles . After you do this activity have students explain how each principle was used. The memory box takes from an 45 minutes to an hour to do , but is a graphic summary of how memory works.
Possible Journal Entries
The reflection exercise on page 230
What are your earliest memories of your childhood
What things are easiest for you to remember. Why do you think this is so.
Using what you now know about how the memory works, describe at note taking system you could use that would incorporates and many of the memory principles as possible.
Follow Up-Assignments
A good follow up assignment is to have students list and explain the 10 memory principles and give an example of how they would use each one in the classes they are currently taking.