ERIC Number: EJ1036770
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Jun
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-726X
EISSN: N/A
Working Memory Underpins Cognitive Development, Learning, and Education
Cowan, Nelson
Educational Psychology Review, v26 n2 p197-223 Jun 2014
Working memory is the retention of a small amount of information in a readily accessible form. It facilitates planning, comprehension, reasoning, and problem solving. I examine the historical roots and conceptual development of the concept and the theoretical and practical implications of current debates about working memory mechanisms. Then, I explore the nature of cognitive developmental improvements in working memory, the role of working memory in learning, and some potential implications of working memory and its development for the education of children and adults. The use of working memory is quite ubiquitous in human thought, but the best way to improve education using what we know about working memory is still controversial. I hope to provide some directions for research and educational practice.
Descriptors: Short Term Memory, Concept Formation, Cognitive Development, Learning Processes, Educational Methods, Educational Improvement
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A