The memory cycle of learning

The following information is a synopsis of the writings of James Zull, specifically his book "The Art Of Changing the Brain." It is intended to be a paraphrasing and not an attempt to infringe his copyright.

The brain moves information in a loop through various hemispheres- left/right and front/back. If you've learned something well, it will have been processed somehow in each of these portions of the brain. These portions of the brain are related to motor, sensory, and integrative (mental) activities.

In 1984 David Kolb theorized a cycle of learning: experience (learning), reflection, abstraction (generating ideas), and active testing. The following actions are often part of the "successful" learning process-

• You learn material through study or some exposure (lecture, etc)
• You think about the data learned
• You begin relating that information to other data you know and create new ideas or questions
• You put the information to active use by drawing charts or concept maps, using it in conversation, etc.

Like any memory technique, the more involved your brain is the better your recollection of the subject matter. The above four steps can be used as the foundation of teaching any material to achieve better learning by students.