ED 105: Facilitating Learner-centered
Teaching
Information
Processing
Theory
Chapter 3.3
Information Processing Theory
Developed by George A. Miller
Mind: like a computer
Human mind takes in information, performs
operations on it to change its form and content,
stores and locates the information, and then
generates output of some type.
Information Processing Theory
Based on the idea that humans do not merely
respond to stimuli from the environment
3 COMPONENTS (Atkinson and Shiffrin)
— Sensory memory
— Short-term memory
— Long-term memory
1. SENSORY MEMORY
It holds the information that the mind
perceives through various senses
Capacity: 0.3 to 3 seconds
Sensed Selective attention Encoding STM
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
Serves as a temporary storage while the
information is being processed before it
is transferred to long-term memory.
Duration: 15-30 seconds
Capacity: 5-9 items of info at a time
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
THE MAGICAL NUMBER SEVEN
Capacity of STM is typically around seven items, plus or minus
two.
An average person can only keep 7 (plus or minus 2) items in
their working memory
Cat Head King Tape
Apple House Hammer Book
Ball Box Milk Flower
Tree Car Fish Key
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
THE MAGICAL NUMBER SEVEN
Capacity of STM is typically around seven items, plus or minus
two.
CHUNKING
>> Grouping individual pieces of information into meaningful units
>> Allows to overcome the limitations of STM
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
CHUNKING
Imagine you're at the grocery store, and you forgot your written
shopping list. Your list include:
Lettuce, chicken, rice, cereal, bread, cheese, tomato, egg, milk,
onion
How are you going to chunk these grocery items?
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
CHUNKING
Imagine you're at the grocery store, and you forgot your written
shopping list. However, you remember the following:
Breakfast: cereal, milk, egg
Lunch: bread, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onion
Dinner: chicken, rice
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
REHEARSAL:
The process of repeating or mentally practicing information to
keep it in short-term memory.
TYPES OF REHEARSALS:
— Maintenance
— Elaborative
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
MAINTENANCE REHEARSAL:
>> Simple repetition or rote memorization of information to
keep it in short-term memory.
>> Effective for retaining information in STM temporarily but
may not lead to effective encoding into long-term memory.
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
ELABORATIVE REHEARSAL:
>> Focuses on creating deeper connections between new
information and existing knowledge.
>> Facilitates better encoding into long-term memory and
enhances retrieval later on.
You’re trying to remember a
phone number. You repeat the
number over and over in your
head to keep it fresh until you can
write it down or dial it.
You’re trying to remember a
phone number. You repeat the
number over and over in your
head to keep it fresh until you can
write it down or dial it.
Maintenance
In order to memorize the process of
photosynthesis, you connect it to
how plants are similar to solar
panels, converting light into
energy.
You need to remember a person’s
You’re trying to remember a
name at a party. Instead of just
phone number. You repeat the
repeating the name over and over,
number over and over in your
you think about how their name
head to keep it fresh until you can
sounds similar to a friend you have
write it down or dial it.
from high school
Maintenance
In order to memorize the process of
photosynthesis, you connect it to
how plants are similar to solar
panels, converting light into
energy.
Elaborative
You need to remember a person’s
You’re trying to remember a
name at a party. Instead of just
phone number. You repeat the
repeating the name over and over,
number over and over in your
you think about how their name
head to keep it fresh until you can
sounds similar to a friend you have
write it down or dial it.
from high school
Maintenance Elaborative
In order to memorize the process of You’re learning how to spell
photosynthesis, you connect it to “accommodate,” and you keep
how plants are similar to solar saying the letters to yourself ("a-c-
panels, converting light into c-o-m-m-o-d-a-t-e") repeatedly
energy. so you don't forget
Elaborative
You need to remember a person’s
You’re trying to remember a
name at a party. Instead of just
phone number. You repeat the
repeating the name over and over,
number over and over in your
you think about how their name
head to keep it fresh until you can
sounds similar to a friend you have
write it down or dial it.
from high school
Maintenance Elaborative
In order to memorize the process of You’re learning how to spell
photosynthesis, you connect it to “accommodate,” and you keep
how plants are similar to solar saying the letters to yourself ("a-c-
panels, converting light into c-o-m-m-o-d-a-t-e") repeatedly
energy. so you don't forget
Elaborative Maintenance
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
THEORIES OF FORGETTING
— Displacement theory
— Decay theory
— Retrieval-failure theory
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
THEORIES OF FORGETTING
DISPLACEMENT THEORY
>> Forgetting in short-term memory (STM) occurs due to
limited capacity.
New information Displaces older info Forgetting
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
THEORIES OF FORGETTING
DECAY THEORY
>> Memories in both STM and LTM naturally decay over
time if not actively rehearsed or used.
>> Passivity can lead to forgetting
2. SHORT-TERM MEMORY
(STM)
THEORIES OF FORGETTING
RETRIEVAL-FAILURE THEORY
>> Suggests that forgetting is not necessarily about
losing information, but rather the inability to retrieve it
due to a lack of proper retrieval cues.
Retrieval cues: any pieces of information that serve as triggers to help us access
and recall memories.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE THEORY OF FORGETTING
Imagine you learned a new language several years ago and took a
trip to the country where it's spoken. During your trip, you were able
to converse comfortably with the locals. However, upon returning
home, you haven't used the language much in your daily life. Months
or even years later, you might find it difficult to recall specific
vocabulary words or grammar rules you once knew confidently.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE THEORY OF FORGETTING
Imagine you learned a new language several years ago and took a
trip to the country where it's spoken. During your trip, you were able
to converse comfortably with the locals. However, upon returning
home, you haven't used the language much in your daily life. Months
or even years later, you might find it difficult to recall specific
vocabulary words or grammar rules you once knew confidently.
Decay theory
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE THEORY OF FORGETTING
You're at a party, chatting with someone new. You remember their
face and the conversation you had, but their name escapes you. It
feels frustrating, like the name is on the "edge of your memory" but
just out of reach.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE THEORY OF FORGETTING
You're at a party, chatting with someone new. You remember their
face and the conversation you had, but their name escapes you. It
feels frustrating, like the name is on the "edge of your memory" but
just out of reach.
Retrieval-failure theory
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE THEORY OF FORGETTING
You're trying to memorize your grocery list, which includes several
items (milk, bread, eggs, bananas, etc.). As you add the last few
items (cereal and laundry detergent), you suddenly struggle to recall
the first few items on the list (milk and bread)
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE THEORY OF FORGETTING
You're trying to memorize your grocery list, which includes several
items (milk, bread, eggs, bananas, etc.). As you add the last few
items (cereal and laundry detergent), you suddenly struggle to recall
the first few items on the list (milk and bread)
Displacement theory
3. LONG-TERM MEMORY
(LTM)
Has an unlimited amount of space
Memories in LTM may fade, but they are not inherently lost.
TYPES:
— Semantic
— Episodic
— Procedural
3. LONG-TERM MEMORY
(LTM)
SEMANTIC MEMORY
>> Refers to general knowledge about the world,
including facts, concepts, and vocabulary.
>> Involves the capacity to recall words, concepts, or
numbers.
>> Less personal
3. LONG-TERM MEMORY
(LTM)
PROCEDURAL MEMORY
>> Involves remembering how to perform certain tasks
or activities
>> memory of how to do things
>> Often operates on a subconscious level
3. LONG-TERM MEMORY
(LTM)
EPISODIC MEMORY
>> The memory of specific events in one’s lives
>> Involves recalling specific events or experiences along
with their context
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
While reminiscing with your siblings during a family dinner, you
vividly recall the time you fell off your bike and broke your arm while
trying to impress your friends with a new trick. You describe the pain,
the trip to the hospital, and the sympathy you received.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
While reminiscing with your siblings during a family dinner, you
vividly recall the time you fell off your bike and broke your arm while
trying to impress your friends with a new trick. You describe the pain,
the trip to the hospital, and the sympathy you received.
Episodic memory
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
Sitting at the kitchen table with your young cousin, you patiently
explain the meanings of words like "photosynthesis" and
"metamorphosis" as part of their homework assignment, relying on
your stored knowledge of biology.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
Sitting at the kitchen table with your young cousin, you patiently
explain the meanings of words like "photosynthesis" and
"metamorphosis" as part of their homework assignment, relying on
your stored knowledge of biology.
Semantic memory
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
While on vacation in a foreign country, you easily recognize and
name famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of
China, and the Statue of Liberty, demonstrating your knowledge of
global geography and cultural heritage.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
While on vacation in a foreign country, you easily recognize and
name famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of
China, and the Statue of Liberty, demonstrating your knowledge of
global geography and cultural heritage.
Semantic memory
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
While working on a project, you type quickly and accurately on your
computer keyboard. The muscle memory built from years of typing
practice allows you to effortlessly translate your thoughts into written
words without needing to look at the keys.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
While working on a project, you type quickly and accurately on your
computer keyboard. The muscle memory built from years of typing
practice allows you to effortlessly translate your thoughts into written
words without needing to look at the keys.
Procedural memory
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
Over a candlelit dinner with your significant other, you reminisce
about the romantic getaway you shared on a secluded beach. You
recall the gentle sound of waves, the feel of warm sand beneath
your feet, and the intimacy of sharing dreams under the starry night
sky.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
Over a candlelit dinner with your significant other, you reminisce
about the romantic getaway you shared on a secluded beach. You
recall the gentle sound of waves, the feel of warm sand beneath
your feet, and the intimacy of sharing dreams under the starry night
sky.
Episodic memory
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
During a jam session with friends, you effortlessly play your favorite
song on the guitar. The finger placements and chord changes come
naturally to you.
EXAMPLES
GUESS THE TYPE OF LTM
During a jam session with friends, you effortlessly play your favorite
song on the guitar. The finger placements and chord changes come
naturally to you.
Procedural memory
TEACHING IMPLICATIONS OF IPT
Make sure you have students attention
Move around the classroom, use gestures and avoid
speaking in a monotone.
Begin a lesson by asking a question that stimulates
interest in the topic.
TEACHING IMPLICATIONS OF IPT
Regain the attention of individual students by walking closer
to them, using their names or by asking them a question.
Help students separate essential from non-essential
details and focus on the most important information.
When you make an important point; pause, repeat, ask a
student to paraphrase, note the information or tell the
students to highlight the point.
TEACHING IMPLICATIONS OF IPT
Help students to make connections between new information
and what they already know.
Provide for repetition and review of information by using
graphic organizers for rehearsals can help.
Present material in a clear, organized way.
Focus more on meaning not on memorization
DO YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS?