Learning Strategies
Long-term memory
Our long-term memory “stores information for very long periods. A distinction is made between semantic memory (explicit knowledge), episodic memory (experiences) and procedural memory (‘how things are to be done’).” [1]
A lifelong library
Our long-term memory can be described as a type of universal library in which everything we have learned in our life to date is stored.
Our memory is nevertheless not just a filing cabinet for facts. You can probably say with some confidence when your birthday is, how many continents there are and what the capital of your home country is. But your long-term memory also enables you to draw logical conclusions and recall specific sequences of events.
The performance of these and other tasks is supported by the division of our long-term memory into different types of memory:
- Declarative memory: Contains knowledge of facts, events and theories. It can be accessed consciously and subdivided into the following three categories:
- Semantic memory: Contains our general knowledge, knowledge gained at school, rules and laws. How and where these memories take shape is unknown.
- Episodic memory: Contains experiences a person had at a specific time and in a specific place.
- Semantic memory: Contains our general knowledge, knowledge gained at school, rules and laws. How and where these memories take shape is unknown.
- Procedural memory: Contains knowledge of how things are done, for example cycling or swimming. [2]
A head full of bookshelves? - How knowledge stored in memory is represented
There are various theories as to how knowledge stored in our memory is best represented. The most widely advocated theories are the network-based and schematic theories presented in the following.
1. Terms
Humans sort information – or “terms” – into general organisational systems and categories based on subjectively perceived commonalities between terms.
Example
What do the terms Pomeranian, terrier, husky, cocker spaniel and Australian shepherd have in common? They are, of, course, all breeds of dog. Let’s try another example: Computer, hairdryer, toaster, mobile phone, fan. This one might take a little longer to figure out, but you will still quickly realise that all of the terms refer to electronic devices.
Rather than being restricted to objects and animals, this process of categorisation is also used to group together events based on perceived commonalities.
2. Associations
Terms are not only categorised but also connected – or “associated” – with one another. Associations are simple statements about a term that make it possible to determine whether a statement is true or false. [3]
Example
You probably associate the term “bees” with the term “honey”. The link between the two terms can be summarised as the association “bees produce honey”.
You probably associate the term “honey” with the term “sweet”. The link between the two terms can be summarised as the association “honey tastes sweet”.
You probably associate the term “sweet” with the term “sugar”, which you in turn associate with the term “cake” – and so on and so forth.
You may nevertheless also associate the term “bees” with the term “insects” (association: “bees are insects”), which you in turn associate with the term “pesticides” (association: “insects are killed by pesticides”).
As such, a single term (in this case “bees”) can be associated with a huge variety of information that branches further and further away from the original term.
This network-like structure enables us to associate different terms within our memory.
Learning is therefore “not the retention of individual terms, but the permanent development and differentiation of concepts and categories that are subsequently linked to one another within knowledge structures.” [4]
What do you associate with the term “fairy-tale”? Create your own mind map as shown in the example above.
- Our long-term memory contains everything we have learned in our life to date.
- It can be divided into different forms of memory depending on the type of information involved (e.g. facts, experiences, sequences of events, etc.).
- Knowledge is stored in our long-term memory as a network-like structure that links pieces of information from different areas to one another.
- This network-like structure enables us to associate different terms within our memory.