Español Português
"THE EVOLVING BRAIN", The known and Unknown, R. Grant Steen, 2007, pages 133 - 134
Can We Improve Our Ability To Learn? (1)
Is Essential To Pay Attention!
Is Essential To Pay Attention!
Given what we know about learning and memory, is it possible to optimize the human ability to learn? Is learning simply IQ in action or it a skill that can be honed? Are limited by our innate abilities or is there a chance that we can intellectually better ourselves?
Recent evidence shows that there are memory-enhancing strategies that rely upon an increased understanding of the way the human brain works. Some strategies are based on common sense and are already in wide use, but some of them are less intuitive.
Since there is a multi-million-dollar market for brain-boosting vitamins, seminars about memory enhancement, and especial foods meant to increase brain power, it maybe worthwhile to review what is actually known.
Perhaps the most important lesson is that it is essential to pay attention. Attention is quite selective, it filters incoming information and allows only relevant information to gain access to working memory. Intense concentration is proven to increase the speed at which a person can learn new facts and ideas, whereas attention has little impact on learning of new motor skills. Explicit memory is therefore more vulnerable to inattention than is implicit memory. Skillful teacher can use this feature of the human mind by helping student to focus on concepts or ideas that are particularly difficult.
Recent evidence shows that there are memory-enhancing strategies that rely upon an increased understanding of the way the human brain works. Some strategies are based on common sense and are already in wide use, but some of them are less intuitive.
Since there is a multi-million-dollar market for brain-boosting vitamins, seminars about memory enhancement, and especial foods meant to increase brain power, it maybe worthwhile to review what is actually known.
Perhaps the most important lesson is that it is essential to pay attention. Attention is quite selective, it filters incoming information and allows only relevant information to gain access to working memory. Intense concentration is proven to increase the speed at which a person can learn new facts and ideas, whereas attention has little impact on learning of new motor skills. Explicit memory is therefore more vulnerable to inattention than is implicit memory. Skillful teacher can use this feature of the human mind by helping student to focus on concepts or ideas that are particularly difficult.
"THE EVOLVING BRAIN", The known and Unknown, R. Grant Steen, 2007, pages 133 - 134
