Working Memory & Learning
Working memory is essential for learning and supports many of the activities that children routinely engage in at school, including:
Controlling attention
Remembering instructions
Organising information
Focusing
Resisting distractions
Complex thinking
These activities are highly associated with our ability to learn, and poor working memory and failure at these activities can be the cause of a significant impairment for students.
"Over time, frequent missed learning opportunities amount to slow educational progress and poor academic attainment." [1]
Cogmed is an evidence-based, cognitive training program that can be effectively implemented in the school learning environment to strengthen students’ working memory.
8 out of 10 users who complete the training show measurable results
That is consistent across the majority of studies and in clinical reporting. When you strengthen working memory, you improve the capacity to focus and learn and this creates an opportunity to improve academic outcomes. Training in a structured learning environment like a school provides additional benefits as students practice and apply their improved skills to new challenges after training.
If you have students who:
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Struggle to focus
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Are easily distracted
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Have difficulties with reading comprehension
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Struggle with solving maths problems in their head
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Often fail to complete tasks
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Are not reaching their potential, despite hard work
Then poor working memory could be part of the problem.
What resources are available to help schools learn about working memory and Cogmed?
There are a number of resources available to help people understand the role of working memory and its impact on learning:
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Share the 3 minute video: Dr Susan Gathercole explains Working Memory
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Join one of our free webinars, Click Here:
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Working Memory Strategies for the Classroom
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Overview of the Research supporting Cogmed
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Implementing Cogmed Training at your School
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Download the Working Memory Resource Kit for Schools, which includes:
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The Working Memory Checklist
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Articles about Working Memory and Learning
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Research in school populations
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See how cogmed works at mycogmed.com
Watch some videos on working memory
[1] Gathercole, Se and Alloway TP (2008) Working Memory and Learning: A Practical Guide for Teachers, London. Sage Publishing