Memory and learning are very closely related. Enhancing one enhances the other. Our memory allows us to store and process the knowledge and skills that we learn in order to use them in the future. However, many of us don’t fully understand how it works, though its importance is not lost on us. Learning more of the specifics and understanding working memory can help us learn more effectively.

So, what is working memory, and why is it important? Working memory is the part of our brain that holds and manipulates information in the short term. It can store verbal, visual, and spatial information in the mind while allowing us to engage in other cognitive activities. It impacts all areas of thinking and learning. Examples of using our working memory in our daily lives include remembering someone’s email address, asking for directions and remembering them until we reach our destination, and learning the name of someone new and keeping it in mind throughout the conversation. These are simple things that we may give no second thought to but that demonstrate how important working memory is in our everyday lives.

Working memory is crucial for paying attention and is therefore essential for students when they are in the classroom. It allows them to process and retain the information they are being taught while simultaneously solving problems, taking notes, and following their teacher’s instructions. The capacity of working memory differs from person to person. Information can easily be lost because of a distraction or cognitive overload. Poor working memory, sometimes caused by cognitive decline, can have many negative effects because it makes holding the necessary information in our minds more difficult, stopping us from completing the task at hand. Those with a lower capacity can lose focus and find it difficult to concentrate. This is especially harmful to students because paying attention is vital to their academic progress.