2020 Diverse Learners Conference

March 13, 2020 | Noble Academy

Working Memory: What is it, Why is it Important,

and How Can We Help?

Working memory is generally described as one’s ability to hold and manipulate information in immediate awareness and is an imperative foundational skill upon which virtually all other cognitive and mental processes are based. It relies heavily on attention and involves blocking out irrelevant information, discarding no longer needed information, and updating with new information. There are many different models and definitions of working memory, but suffice to say, it is a person’s “mental scratchpad.” Performance on tests of working memory has been shown to correlate highly with performance on various academic tasks including basic reading, reading comprehension, math calculation and reasoning, spelling, written expression, listening comprehension, oral expression, and overall language skills. When working with students who have special educational needs, it is imperative that professionals also consider whether or not the student is displaying age-appropriate working memory; additional assessment and intervention may be necessary. This interactive workshop will define the term “working memory” using clear, easy to understand terms. It will also draw the connection between working memory and academics, highlighting the ways in which working memory weaknesses can negatively impact learning and performance. Finally, many concrete strategies will be provided that can be used to support a student with weak working memory.

Target Audience: Teachers, student support professionals, academic administrators, and learning specialists

NCAIS Member School Registration - $150.00
NCAIS Member School Group Registration (if registering 3+ faculty) - $135.00
Non-member Registration - $200.00