Working Memory

Symptoms of Working Memory Difficulties

Working Memory is a background skill that is often hard to identify, and yet is so critical to student success. It is closely correlated to both IQ -- for instance, strong Working Memory allows holding and comparing multiple facts in mind at one time, helping logic and reasoning -- and to attention stamina -- retention of information makes it more interesting and engaging.
Working Memory definition

Symptoms of a Working Memory issue include:

• A need to re-read text
  
• Difficulty following multi-step directions
  
• Difficulty staying engaged in class
  
• Test anxiety, especially on multiple choice tests
  
• A need for more time and repetition
  
• Inconsistent performance
  
• Lack of focus and attention deficit disorders

Several of these symptoms are associated with multiple learning diagnoses, only because Working Memory is central to almost all learning.

Learning Efficiency
Academic success is dependent on a number of skills working at a high level, many of which involve Working Memory: for instance, being able to retain information in class, reading with comprehension, and attention stamina. Our learning software is effective in reducing the time spent on homework and improving grades, because it helps in these various areas.
Improved Working Memory helps learning efficiency

Attention Deficits
Working memory deficits are closely related to attention because if students cannot hold information as it is coming at them, it is harder to stay engaged. These children tend to be more easily distracted and are often diagnosed as having an attention deficit or ADD.
Learn more about inattentive attention deficits

Reading & Dyslexia
Several of the symptoms above impact reading -- both in learning to decode, and in reading efficiency for comprehension. Most of the time in reading though, the true difficulty is phonological awareness, and an inability to retain text as it is read points to inefficient and exhausting decoding, rather than weak Working Memory. Our reading programs target both issues.
Our reading software

Our Working Memory Programs

Improving Working Memory is one of the holy grails of educational software, and it is a major focus of Fast ForWord, the software used by Gemm Learning.
Programs to improve Working Memory

Memory difficulties related to longer term memory function can also lead to attention deficits and other learning disabilities.
Five aspects to memory difficulties