COMPACT DISC‐INTERACTIVE MEMORY TRAINING WITH THE ELDERLY

Abstract

The memory training literature indicates that older adults benefit from mnemonic instruction as demonstrated by their improved immediate recall performance in a laboratory setting. However, learned mnemonic strategies fail to generalize beyond the laboratory primarily due to shortcomings associated with traditional memory training techniques. Among the identified inadequacies of traditional memory training techniques are: (a) failure to realistically simulate real world memory tasks; (b) failure to incorporate interactivity; and (c) failure to provide sustained exposure to strategy and opportunity for continued practice. Two alternative formats to traditional memory training that have been proposed are videotaped and computer assisted instruction (CAI). However, neither of these alternative media of instruction is ideal. Learning from videotaped instruction, much like watching television, is essentially passive and does not yield the greater benefits associated with interactive learning. In contrast, CAI ...