Learning Strategies and Information Processing

Learning Strategies and Information Processing
The way that an individual learns information is derived from several different factors. Attention, memory, recognition, and knowledge all contribute to the way that a person learns new information. In addition, visual perceptual, motor and language skills all relate to information processing development. Each of these two areas are responsible for the intake of new information and the way in which this information is processed, whether correctly or incorrectly.

Learning strategies are special ways of processing information that enhance comprehension, learning, and the retention of information. 1 Attention is the most important memory and learning skill because without it none of the other skills could be applied. Attention relates to learning strategies for the very simple, yet very accurate reason, if a person does not pay attention to something that person will not be able to correctly learn and process the information. By not paying enough attention things are not not learned well enough and are easily forgotten. In order to truly learn and remember something requires a person's full attention during the time you are applying the learning technique. Simple ways to increase your attention for better learning strategies are to take short breaks when doing a task and increase your motivation for a task.

Memory is the ability to encode, store and recall information. Memory provide a person the ability to learn and to adapt from previous experiences as well as build relationships. A person's memory provides the building blocks for a increasing to a higher level of learning strategies. when a person is able to remember, recall, previous information, this allows that person to determine what worked or did not work, and move to the next step in their processing. 

Memory directly effects a person's recognition. This is a cause and effect type relationship for learning strategies. Effective recognition makes it possible for someone to translate their memory into working knowledge. This is possible because memories are recognized and processed. Recognition is not always easy for every person. Their are ways to help recognition. They may be as simple as a letter, symbol, or a sound to have recall of information that is stored in one's memory. These strategies are used quite often for helpful recall in learning strategies.

A great amount of effective knowledge and learning strategies is about a two way communication that takes place in a simple and effective method. Then, applying simple techniques to try and build on past experiences to improve activities in the future. 2 A common misconception is that knowledge is something that is learned. The accurate way of describing this is that knowledge is a culmination of paying attention to someone or something, storing that in your memory, being able to recall that information and then properly putting that information to use. Knowledge is important to effective learning strategies because this is what puts together all of the individual elements that have occurred in the multi-step process for effective learning.

Information processing is the process that occurs with the change of information in any way that is detectable by an observer. This is a process that describes everything that happens, or changes, in the universe, from telling a story to providing details to another person for assistance. The most commonly used information-processing model has three major components. These components are the registering of information, short-term memory, and long-term memory.3 This is effected by visual-perceptual, motor and language skills.

Visual-perceptual skills are the ability to organize and to interpret information that is seen and given meaning. This includes information-processing skills such as spatial relations, visual discrimination, visual memory and visualization.4 Visual-perceptual skills are very powerful because they act as a recall for much of the information that is stored in one's memory. Visual-perceptual processing uses the cognitive skills that enable us to process and interpret meaning from visual information that we gain from our eye sight. Visual-perceptual deficits can lead to difficulties in learning, recognizing, and remembersing. The easier it is to extract information, meaning the easier it is to perceive information, the easier it is for our thought processes.

Motor skills, such as visual motor integration, and fine motor skills, effect the information-processing development in a few ways. One type of visual motor skill, eye-hand coordination, is the ability to coordinate visual information processing skills with motor skills. Early visually detected motor skills develop into the fine eye-hand coordination skills that are required to complete many tasks learning through information-processing development. When there is a problem with a person's motor skills, this hinders the information-processing development and can block learning from happening. A simple example would be a student in a math class that is learning fractions and using manipulative's. If the student has trouble with their motor skills, they won't be able to use the manipulative's properly and will have a problem with their information-processing development.

Language skills are essential for proper information-processing development. Language is what allows the expressions of thoughts, what has been perceived, and what is known and unknown. When there is a language issue, information can not be processed properly. It is important to understand that language entails more than just simply speaking to someone. Language skills mean that information has not only been taken into the cognitive process correctly, but can be explained and used for the information-processing development. When their is a language issue, information is effected in a negative manner. For example, if a person hears instructions and but is unable to process what is heard into clear and correct language there is an interruption in the information-processing development. 

Learning strategies are used by individuals to help them understand information and to solve problems. A learning strategy is a person's approach to learning and to using information. If a person does not know or use correct learning strategies they will often learn incorrectly and ultimately not obtain success. Learning strategies work together and build upon one another. It is in this way that attention, memory, recognition, and knowledge relate to effective learning strategies. Each of these four components are related to the other and effect the ultimate success for learning. There are ways to improve attention, memory, recognition, and one's knowledge. Simple adjustments to one or more of these skills will lead to better and more effective learning strategies. Much in the way that there are more than one elements that all combine for effective learning strategies, there are also several elements that lead to effective information-processing development. A person's visual-perceptual, motor and language skills all contribute to a person's information-processing development. Visual skills, motor skills, and language skills each help the other to create the information-processing development. The acquisition of new information is a complex process that is dependent on several elements. Success in this process takes time, and most of all, patience. 


References:
1. www.catdir.loc.gov/catdir/samples/cam031/89009770.pdf
2. www.sitesresources.worldbank.org/.../May21_OmerKarasapan_TunisKMC
3. www.education.com > School and Academics > Classroom Learning
4. www.randolpheye.com.Content/patientinformation/visionglossar…


Write an essay of 1,250-1,500 words in which you address learning strategies and information-processing development.
Explain how attention, memory, recognition, and knowledge relate to learning strategies.
Discuss how visual-perceptual, motor, and language relate to information-processing development.