Activity 5.1

Does learning depend on memory? Have we learned a thing if we can't remember it? Why is it that we remember so (seemingly) little of what we have been taught? Can we conclude that we have "forgotten" something if we cannot recall information verbally? On the other hand, why do we often remember (and often so vividly) the very things we wish to forget?

I would imagine that learning does depend on memory, in the way that you have to remember an action or thought process many times before it becomes a habit. 


I think that, since we defined learning as a relatively permanent change, it would seem to say that if one can't remember a fact that it wasn't really learned. In that case, it would make more since to say that it was memorized, not learned. 


I have heard that facts, once learned, are always floating around in our brains - the problem arises when they cannot be retrieved at will. I have read countless essays over literary criticism (essentially being taught) , but I have trouble recalling any author's opinion at any given time. I think that the reason behind my failure to remember is the fact that the information never made its way to my long term memory bank; really, I just memorized their opinions long enough to reference them in my papers, and then forgot all about them. 


I'm not sure if we can count something as "forgotten" if we can still recall what it is that was forgot. I'm famous for answering questions with, "I know the answer, Professor, but I can't formulate it into words. It's like this...". The fact that I can describe the forgotten word or concept in "its like this" terms seems to point out that I do in fact remember the subject matter, if not the accurate verbal description?


I would imagine that the reason horrible things are remembered so vividly is related to the emotion that is sparked upon their conception. It seems, at least to me, that the emotions accompanied by the memory are remembered so much clearer than the actual event; horrible memories refuse to die because of the impression they made on us. For example, I have had horrible dreams since I was a little kid after watching a particular Goosebumps episode about a deranged cat/monster. Yes, really. But I have trouble recalling the actual episode itself; it is far easier for me to remember the feelings I had when watching the video.