¶ … Memory Techniques It is an illusion that anything is ever "forgotten" by the human brain. Once information is actually remembered, it is kept in storage by the brain forever, unless physical brain damage removes the data. In most cases, the actual cause of what is commonly conceived as something not being remembered is actually that the information was not really stored in the brain, or that one is simply unable to retrieve the correct data at a certain time. It is a constant occurrence that information is not stored properly or that one is unable to retrieve data, and the ability to remember vs. forget material is essential to academic success. The majority of what decides how well a student will do in a class is whether or not the student can fully pay attention and then remember information. Therefore it is vital for students and teachers to work together to help develop advanced skills in attention and memory, at every grade level and in every subject. This is the most fundamental skill for every student to master. While the actual makeup of the brain wiring that control memory is still largely not understood, it is widely accepted that a conscious effort to retain a memory for later retrieval is more effective, and newly acquired information is more ready accessible than older information. Studying the three classes of memory storage, the two aspects of memory, and commonly used memory and attention techniques can improve classroom performance.

There are three kinds of memory: super short-term, short-term, and long-term. Super short-term...

When super short-term memory is used, the information received may be inaccessible within seconds. For example, in class, the teacher may give a piece of information in a lecture, and by the time the student has written down his or her notes, the information is already forgotten. Short-term memory lasts longer than super short-term memory, often a few hours. Short-term memory space is limited, so if too much information is put into short-term memory storage, some information is lost. "Short-term memory has a limited capacity and information disappears fast unless you can shift it into long-term memory. Most of the information that we receive is not stored but quickly lost - probably at least 50% almost immediately and around 20% after 24 hours." (Willamet University, 2004) In a classroom setting, this is the type of memory storage that would be used to "cram" for tests, and also the most common kind of memory that is used when new information is studied for the first time. Finally, there is long-term memory. This is the most "permanent" information storage, and there is not a limited amount of room for information stored in this way. "Long-term memory is effectively permanent storage of information pulled from your short-term memory. A student's goal should be to get information from classes into long-term memory." (Lorimer 2004)
Beyond the three classes of memory, there are also two parts to the memory process: concentration and recall. A person's attention is always divided. Truly…