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Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2631] Intelligent Memory
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Colleagues,
Have any of you read the book, Intelligent Memory (2003) by Barry Gordon and
Lisa Berger, Viking Penguin, New York?
Dr. Gordon connects to the cognitive theories of enhancing attention,
expanding working memory, sparking connections, and incubating ideas, behaviors that
help us activate, organize, retain, and retrieve information.
About attention, Gordon says that paying attention is critical to absorbing
information. The more you pay attention, the more you learn.
Now, I'm sure that there are more professional responses to this statement,
but mine was, Well, Duh!
But, then, Gordon gives some practical suggestions for helping students to
pay attention:
(1) Shorten the time of the lesson. A purposeful lesson that helps
students focus is more effective because FOCUS releases neuronal energy, triggering
associations that help us remember.
(2) Teach students the importance of effective notetaking, focusing
conscious attention on the important thread of information.
Another bit of information that I found interesting is the debunking of the
notion of multitasking, which these authors say imposes costs. One such cost
is that the spread of attention affects the amount of time that is available
for thought. And, they say, thinking about what we are doing or reading
increases Intelligent memory. And, I think, may prevent accidents!
Enjoy and All the Best,
Meta Potts, Moderator 4-EFF List
FOCUS on Literacy
Glen Allen, VA
mwpotts2001@aol.com
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