The most important points to remember about working memory are: While it was originally thought that the normal range of items held in working memory is 5 to 9 items, research has shown that this capacity is actually lower and is closer to just 4 items. We are able to handle only a small number of new items at any given moment. The most prominent feature of the working memory system is its limited capacity. It is where we combine incoming information from the environment with retrieved information from our long-term memory, and then use both to make a decision or complete an action. The working memory is where all our mental processing and real-time thinking takes place. Research indicates that the way we engage with information in our working memory influences how well this memory will be stored in the long-term memory system. All of these functions are performed in our working memory. When we retrieve a memory, we are able to manipulate it, to think about it, to add new information to it, and to make decisions based on it. Specific patterns are created during learning, processed in our working memory before being stabilised and stored in long-term memory, and, potentially, reactivated upon recollection. These patterns represent our stored knowledge. When they activate each other, they form pathways and networks of synchronous activity. Neurons are the basic functional unit in the brain, and they communicate with each other by sending and receiving signals. This information is stored in neuronal patterns. Our ability to respond effectively is dependent on our long-term memory system to store important information from similar past scenarios. The function of the brain is to receive signals from the environment, to process them, and to respond effectively in order to support wellbeing and survival. What are the basic neural systems that allow us to learn and remember? Can we utilise our understanding of these systems to shape our teaching in the classroom? This guide explores the two major systems, long-term memory and working memory, explaining their key features, how they interact to allow us to learn and remember, and what it is important to consider when teaching new material to new students. As teachers, we want our students to learn effectively and remember what they have learned in the future.
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