Learning to Learning to LearnLearn99thth grade: World Geography grade: World Geography

Short Term Short Term MemoryMemory

Most people can remember 3-9 items of Most people can remember 3-9 items of information for about 20 seconds.information for about 20 seconds.

If that is true, how did I learn 30 names If that is true, how did I learn 30 names and remember them fifteeen minutes and remember them fifteeen minutes later?later?

Long Term Long Term MemoryMemory

Our long term memory stores unlimited amounts Our long term memory stores unlimited amounts of information from a few days up to many of information from a few days up to many decades.decades.

By making a connection with information in short By making a connection with information in short term memory to information in long term term memory to information in long term memory, people can remember much more memory, people can remember much more information in a much shorter time. information in a much shorter time.

Work Smarter not HarderWork Smarter not Harder

Using a strategy is working smarter, not harder.Using a strategy is working smarter, not harder.Some learning strategies include:Some learning strategies include:

REPETITIONREPETITION

ASSOCIATIONASSOCIATIONchunkingchunkingvisualizationvisualizationmneumonicsmneumonics

RHYME & RHYTHMRHYME & RHYTHM

Mental NetworkThe more connections to an idea, The better you will remember it.

RepetitionRepetition

Repetition takes longer but the more something Repetition takes longer but the more something is repeated the stronger the connection is repeated the stronger the connection becomes.becomes.

That which we persist in doing becomes easier; That which we persist in doing becomes easier; not because the nature of the thing has not because the nature of the thing has changed but because our ability to do it has changed but because our ability to do it has increasedincreased

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

AssociationAssociation

Chunking is putting numbers or words Chunking is putting numbers or words together in a way that means together in a way that means something to you.something to you.

Example: If the last four numbers of a Example: If the last four numbers of a phone number was 8818, I would think phone number was 8818, I would think of Marvin Harrison (#88) catching a of Marvin Harrison (#88) catching a pass from Peyton Manning (#18). pass from Peyton Manning (#18).

chunking

AssociationAssociation

Mneumonics are taking a new word and Mneumonics are taking a new word and using the way it sounds to connect to a using the way it sounds to connect to a word that you already know that sounds word that you already know that sounds similar. similar.

Example: the Japanese word saiko (great, Example: the Japanese word saiko (great, awesome) sounds just like the English awesome) sounds just like the English word psycho (crazy). word psycho (crazy).

Mneumonics Geico sounds like gekko

Association Association

Visualization is connecting the Visualization is connecting the thing you want to learn with a thing you want to learn with a picture or image.picture or image.

picturespictures logo logo mapsmaps charts charts graphs graphs diagramsdiagrams

Learning increases at least four Learning increases at least four times faster when there is times faster when there is some kind of visualsome kind of visual

visualization

Rhyme & RhythmRhyme & Rhythm

Rhyme is connecting the thing you want to Rhyme is connecting the thing you want to remember with another word that sounds remember with another word that sounds the same.the same.

Rhythm is putting the thing you want to Rhythm is putting the thing you want to remember to some beat. remember to some beat.

Knowledge networkKnowledge network

MotivationMotivation

All this talk of strategies sound great but All this talk of strategies sound great but there is one thing that you must have there is one thing that you must have before you will take the time to use a before you will take the time to use a strategy. strategy.

MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION

What Motivates?What Motivates?

FearFear

DutyDuty

LoveLove

FearFearFear can be a strong motivator but it Fear can be a strong motivator but it

only lasts as long as the threat of only lasts as long as the threat of harm or punishment lasts. As soon harm or punishment lasts. As soon as the threat is gone so is the as the threat is gone so is the motivation.motivation.

If you are only motivated to learn so If you are only motivated to learn so you won’t get punished, you you won’t get punished, you probably won’t use strategies and probably won’t use strategies and will only do the minimum required will only do the minimum required to get byto get by

DutyDuty

Duty is a stronger Duty is a stronger motivator than fear. motivator than fear. Many people have given Many people have given up their lives our of up their lives our of loyalty to their family, loyalty to their family, friends, relgion or friends, relgion or country.country.

LoveLove

Love is the strongest motivation. It is doing Love is the strongest motivation. It is doing something because you want to.something because you want to.

DO YOU LOVE TO LEARN?DO YOU LOVE TO LEARN?

Everyone loves to learn, it just depends on Everyone loves to learn, it just depends on what they want to learn about.what they want to learn about.

A Bowl With No HolesA Bowl With No Holes

Learning for either duty or love is like Learning for either duty or love is like having a bowl with no holes in it. having a bowl with no holes in it.

The bowl is like your brain and the water is The bowl is like your brain and the water is like information. If you plug the holes, like information. If you plug the holes, less information will leak out. less information will leak out.

What motivates you?What motivates you?

82% of U.S. prison inmates are high school 82% of U.S. prison inmates are high school dropouts.dropouts.

70% of prison inmates are functionally illiterate.70% of prison inmates are functionally illiterate.

75% of those claiming welfare are functionally 75% of those claiming welfare are functionally illiterate. illiterate.

Does this scare you?

What motivates you?What motivates you?80/20 Rule

Lifetime Earnings

High school dropout $608,000

High school graduate $802,000

Some college $922, 890

Associate degree $1,062,130

Bachelor’s degree $1,420,850

Master’s degree $2,142,440

Ph.D. $3,012,300

What Motivates You?What Motivates You?

What would your life be like if it were as small and dark as a What would your life be like if it were as small and dark as a closet?closet?

Knowledge is lightKnowledge is light

Knowledge is power Knowledge is power

Your world is only as big as the knowledge that you possess.Your world is only as big as the knowledge that you possess.

Quality of Life

Assignment: Response Assignment: Response #1#1

A response is a one page written assignment A response is a one page written assignment that has two parts.that has two parts.

1. Write a ½ page summary that includes 1. Write a ½ page summary that includes the main ideas and supporting details of the the main ideas and supporting details of the lesson.lesson.

2. Write a ½ page explanation of how this 2. Write a ½ page explanation of how this lesson relates to you and your life. Please lesson relates to you and your life. Please include experiences, examples and opinionsinclude experiences, examples and opinions