, you can contain substantial amounts of information, for long periods of time, which is the most useful when learning.To move information from Short-term memory to long term memory humans use special tactics that may seem trivial, but are important in learning. “An important technique for keeping information in short-term memory and increasing the chances of long-term retention is rehearsal, the review or practice of material while you are learning it. When people are prevented from rehearsing, the contents of their short-term memories quickly fade” (Travis 367). If enough rehearsal or practice occurs, information may be transferred form short-term memory into long-term memory. Long-term memory is our “permanent storehouse of information” (Internet). For example, all the knowledge we have accumulated, all the skills we have learned, and all of our memories of past experiences are stored in our long-term memory. Long-term memory helps us learn things by memorizing things we see, hear, or understand using one of the two types of “circuits” in long-term memory: Declarative Memory, or Procedural Memory. In Declarative memory we learn because it helps in remembering “fact” memories, such as names, dates, and event. This memory is most related to “thinking and problem solving… can be rapidly learned and rapidly forgotten” (Sternberg 288). To use this memory, it involves understanding of concepts, and thinking about the importance of the information. On the other hand, Procedural Memory can be seen as “skill” memory such as remembering how to ride a bicycle, or how to play an instrument. This memory involves, repetition, and rehearsal for learning. Repetition and rehearsal are forms of mnemonics.Mnemonics are strategies for remembering information. They work because they add meaning and context to hard-to-remember information. There are several different types of m...
