Computer-Assisted Memory Retention

Abstract

Students need to memorize a large amount of information for studies and examinations. But the majority of them are frustrated because they encounter problems for memory: It is easier to forget than to remember. It is believed that items can be stored in two ways: short-term and long-term memory in the brain. Items in short term memory will be forgotten quickly. Long-term memory is memory that lasts for years or longer time. Human can transfer items in short-term memory to permanent storage in long-term memory. We present a computer system which aims at helping learners with items retention in long-term memory using animation and audio presentations. It will help learners associate vocabulary with images, monitor and assess their progress by giving interactive practices and tests. Students were divided by two groups and the first group acted as a pilot group. They used the computer system with animation. After a period of time, they were retested the taught items again to check their memory retention. Results were collected for assessing the effectiveness of the proposed computer system. The performance of the pilot group was used to compare with the second group using software package which display still pictures only. According to the final test results, the average performance of the group with animation was 20% better than the second group. It proves the feasibility of using animation to transfer information from short term memory to long time memory.

Save as a Favourite

Author Information
Alfred Loo, Lingnan University, Hong Kong
C. W. Chung, Lingnan University, Hong Kong
Alan Lam, Lingnan University, Hong Kong

• Category: Librarianship - E-learning, M-learning, learning objects, content, platforms and tools

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

All Posts