a matter of seconds. The sensory register retains only a minimal amount of the vast information it receives. During the attention process, information is transported from the temporary state to a state of awareness. The attention is selective; it acts as a filter to reject useless information such as background activity and to incorporate useful information such as educational concepts. The next step in the information storage process is short-term memory. Short-term memory is distinguished by its relatively small capacity and its temporary nature. Retaining information in short-term memory requires conscious effort. Information is transferred from the short-term memory to the long-term memory using a process called encoding. Once in long-term memory, information can be recalled, and this is how learning takes place. Storage in long-term memory requires that information possess meaning connections in the mind.
The role of meaning in classroom instruction and long-term memory retention is critical whether teachers use computers or not. As Ericks
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