Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Theses
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Theses
    • View Item

    The application of a technique for enhancing recall to improve learning in the science classroom

    17778_Parsons D 2007 Full.pdf (1.277Mb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Parsons, Darryl C
    Date
    2007
    Supervisor
    Prof. David Treagust
    Type
    Thesis
    Award
    ScEdD
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    School
    Science and Mathematics Education Centre
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25
    Collection
    • Curtin Theses
    Abstract

    There has existed for many years a memory enhancement technique ("memory pegs") that although having dramatic demonstrable success in some individual cases has not been generally applied in education. The emergence of constructivist epistemology has emphasised the notion that learning occurs as a result of connecting new material with previously learnt concepts. There is, therefore, the implication that effective learning requires some previous knowledge upon which to attach new concepts - and thus realisation of the importance of learning with respect to acquiring factual information as a prerequisite to learning new processes and/or skills. This issue has focussed my attention on the need to ensure that the more physiological skills of accessing 'memory', both for learning and recall, are optimised for maximum learning. Further, there are some indications that the physiological skills of memory access (storage and retrieval) may respond favourably to training and 'exercise'. This study was designed to find out whether or not a repeated 'exercise' using a simple memory enhancement technique would lead to a determinable and statistically significant increase in overall performance in a range of cognitive skills (as indicated by science and mathematics examination results), whether learning such a technique would affect a student's attitudes towards science, whether there was a relationship between the amount of time spent practicing the technique and the degree of effect, and whether the memory technique did actually improve the ability to recall lists of objects. Although the analysis of data gathered during the course of this study did support an observation that there was a general increase in achievement in assessments, the improvement in results was not dramatic enough to be significant. No effect on attitudes towards science was evident. The data gathered concerning the amount of practice time proved to be insufficient to determine a trend. Within the limitations of the research, the data showed that the ability to remember a list of objects had been significantly improved, there was no clear evidence of transference of this ability to result in improved examination or assessment results.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Educational practice and learning environments in rural and urban lower secondary science classrooms in Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia
      Wahyudi, (2004)
      This study investigated the educational practices and learning outcomes in rural and urban lower secondary school science classrooms of Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia. Guided by six research questions, this study focused ...
    • Enhancing students’ Learning Experiences Outside School (LEOS) using digital technologies
      Coll, Sandhya Devi (2015)
      This thesis reports on an inquiry on enhancing students’ learning experiences outside school (LEOS) using digital technologies. The inquiry took the nature of an ethnographic case study which was conducted over a year. ...
    • Geological science education and conceptual change
      Vallender, Glenn David (2010)
      Geological science is a fascinating subject of learning. We live with and are surrounded by the results of complex natural phenomena such as plate tectonics, earth system interactions and natural hazards such as volcanoes, ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin University would like to pay our respect to the indigenous members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth Campus is located, the Wadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie Campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.
    Watch our traditional Aboriginal welcome