helping senior students retain information
I have a few senior citizens in my class, and I have noticed they are having special trouble remembering the material. Any suggestions for helping them retain information without seeming like I am being disrespectful to them/
Brenda,
When I have students such as this I use a lot of "loci" learning. This means I connect content with objects, locations, and memories to facilitate the retention of the content by these students. For example if they are to remember 6 items, I will take a marker and draw a cartoon stick figure doing something that reminds the students of the item on sticky poster paper. In my class they need to remember a six step procedure. Step one is document. I draw a stick doctor, put a U in the middle and then a picture of a mint. "Doc-U-mint" I put the poster paper on the wall along with the five other steps. We review them and then I take the papers down. Then I point to the blank spot on the wall and the students are able to recall the step since they are visualizing the cartoon drawing. I also use other objects like stuffed toys, graphic study guides, anything to connect their eyes, ears and experiences to what they need to learn.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
