What can you remember--

1.This chapter is about working memory, the short version. It focuses on the processes of how memory is acquired and then stored. The chapter does a good job of detailing what types of things are easily remembered and which things are not. One thing I thought the author detailed was how each individual process worked and then contributed to the overall workings of memory.

2. This information in chapter 4 relates to what I have previously learned by going into more detail of brain function. There is huge correlation to how the mind takes in audio and visual stimuli, how it processes, and in this chapter how it stores it. Like most text books, it focuses on scaffold learning (just used my long-term memory for something I learned in college). I gained a better understanding of the individual processes that go into the totality of working memory because of prior knowledge of how the brain processes, then perceives. All concepts I have learned in previous chapter.

3.What I am still not clear on is how can short term disappear so easily ("can leave before we learn it") but long-term can stay. Then another thing that perplexes me is how something in our short term can trigger something in our long term and they don't necessarily have to be similiar. The book did not go deep into this correlation, but I also know that the next chapter focuses on long-term and there my answer may lie.

4. The concept of short term memory shows up in my coaching everyday. I try and balance so many things my short term memory is easily overwhelmed. Reading about the process makes things a lot easier to understand and process. Trying to remember names from other teams players, what kinds of plays they run, even the tendencies of their players. In addition to that, I try to run practice, monitor all the things that are going on, and remember what the keys are for the day. One thing that I will take from this chapter is that I need to write things down more. Because I am a behaviorist, my short term picks up on behaviors and not people, and I think that hurts my memory process during coaching.

5. There are many points in this book which the author uses to back-up statements. One thing that I found I struggle with is acoustic confusion. Working in urban centers you normally get students with hard to pronounce yet very similar names. The author states that when you have letter that sound alike, you will make errors in your memories because of the confusion. I suffer from this, recalling the wrong name for the wrong child (because their names are similar, but yet not common enough to recall quickly).

6. This chapter is very important for coaches (educators) because it gives us reason for our rhyme when it comes to memory. In my everyday, I have to remember my players names, their tendencies, try and game plan for a team we may not have seen in a month or in some cases a year depending on what time of the season it is. I know have a better understanding of how my mind processes information and stores it. Now that i am aware of it, I can take better steps to maximize my memory, both short and long term.

7. Previously I have focused on my memory, but in this question I will focus it toward my players. One thing that we often use is visualspatial sketchpad. When teaching plays and moves, I use markers (spots on a basketball floor) to introduce moves and execution points. My players at first when learning put the markers and moves into short term memories, then through repitition it transfers into long term memories. I also keep good mind of the depression in my players. When they are down, I notice our execution (which comes from memory) severly goes down. Never quite understood why being sad would affect this until I read chapter. But I thought about how that preoccupies the mind, and it can be harmful.

8. There are many memory devices that are avalible for all ages of people. You can start with the board and card games for younger aged children which are fairly cheap. For teen-agers there are video games and computer programs. All these are cheap, fast ways to work on memory. Many studies show that simply reading and forcing the mind to continually problem solve and think helps the memory as well as eating certain foods. The cheapest one that I have found is repetition, I have been using it for years! LOL!