The dual memory model of information processing is
the theory of how the human brain processes information. Information (input) enters the brain through
sensory registers (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell) through attention
and perception the information may move to short-term memory (conscious
thought). Once in short-term memory it
only remains for several seconds, and if connections are made it may move to
long-term memory. The information stays
in the long-term memory (repository of knowledge) where it connects with other
schemata (knowledge structures). The
process of retrieval happens when a cue or connection assists in bringing the
information to the conscious. According
to Mayer (2012), the information processing model is critical to the
instructional environment because it facilitates the cognitive learning
process.
The Internet is changing the way we process information
and how the brain functions. The mind quickly processes information while browsing,
scrolling, and linking from page to page.
People use the Internet to socialize, shop, research, take classes,
communicate, work, pay bills, and connect in every way possible. This multitasking environment is viewed by
many as an efficient way to achieve more in less time, and the availability of
electronic devices makes it possible. Rosen
(2008) explains that media multitasking is resulting in a loss of productivity, loss
of time, negative impact on learning, and diversion of attention.
The electronic technology is creating a change in
the way people interact and learn. “Of
all the sacrifices we make when we devote ourselves to the Internet as our
universal medium, the greatest is likely to be the wealth of connections within
our own minds” (Carr, 2011, p. 195). The
Internet may be a great supplement or complement to memory and learning, but it
does not replace the complex biological process that happens in the brain when
learning occurs. Carr (2011) describes
the Internet as the source for creating a habit of behavior in how information
is processed that is detrimental to the full function and utilization of the
brain. Supporting the importance of the cognitive
function of information processing James (1899/2001) states, “the more copious
the associative systems, the completer the individual’s adaptations to the
world” (p. 42). In order to operate fully
and efficiently in society one must keep in mind “…the art of remembering is
the art of thinking…” (James, 1899/2001, p. 70).
The Internet is creating a culture of people who are
outsourcing their memory to the computer.
The implications this may have for learning include an increased lack of
attention, faulty memory, lack of interest, and the change of habits (that are
not as productive). In addition, the
reliance on the computer is decreasing the ability to think deeply and make
connections and associations that translate into meaning. As Pinker (2002) noted, the human brain is critical
in the individual’s ability to prosper in the world’s complex environment. The computer has often been used as a
metaphor for the brain, and now there are signs that the computer is becoming a
substitute for many of the functions of the brain.
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