My Official Site

If we are thinking about something, we are presenting information about these in our working memory. Working memory processes information we receive from sensory memory or long term memory. Sensory memory is the bridge between out-world and our brain. Once an information is received, working memory will process and store it into long term memory. Long term memory can store an unlimited amount of information that can be retrieved either consciously or automatically anytime by working memory.

However, working memory is severely limited. It only processes a small amount of information, particularly if the information is novel or complex. Working memory cannot recognise a novel information, since prior information (related information stored in long term memory) is unavailable. Working memory will heavily organise the novel information and thus, it easily become overloaded. Moreover, if the information stored in long term memory is unwell organised, prior information is rarely accessible. A complex problem that required many automatic prior knowledge will be a hard task for working memory to solve it, because the number of information in such problem might overload working memory capacity. An over load working memory causes information not stored in a well organised knowledge building (with related information) in long term memory, otherwise, information just passes over working memory without necessarily to be constructed into knowledge and saved in long term memory appropriately. Therefore, we frequently forget information that is processed while working memory capacity is exceeded. We also will not remember about an information if working memory is processing some other unrelated information.

So, what to do to avoid forgets? We need consciously to place that information if we want to remember it. The only way to retrieve information from long term memory automatically is an extensive use of that information. For example, a schedule of examination is novel information because it is always current and it might have many items. We might not be able to store this information appropriately for some reasons, such as complexions of the exams’ schedule, have other tasks, doing some jobs, etc. Hence, we might easily forget the schedule. Nevertheless, say we are used to putting schedules in an agenda book. As well, looking at this book every morning. Our long term memory has stored a task of “looking at the agenda book every morning” and so is able to send it automatically to working memory every morning. In this case, we could sit to the exams as scheduled, because the automatic task assist us to locate the information of exams’ schedule in working memory.

I am taking an IELTS this Saturday at the IALF, Kuningan, Jakarta. The result will determine whether I am eligible to apply scholarship for taking a PhD in Australia. Here, I just wanted to share what I have known about IELTS.

Most of us who do not speak English as the first languange are required to pass the IELTS at a certain level if applying to study in Australia or the UK. It is like TOEFL, that is one of the requirement to study in the US and some other countries. However, the structure is different.

IELTS consists of four components: listening, reading, writing and speaking tests. Commonly, we are seated for tests of listening, reading and writing at once in a room together with other participants. Then, it is followed by a speaking test in a different schedule because the test takes a one by one interview. For listening and reading tests, almost all types of test are included, such as multiple choices, short answers, or completion. In the listening test, we will listen to a tape recording of conversations or lectures while in the reading test, we are given three or four articles consisting of several passages. In the writing test, we are assigned to a short essay up to 100 words describing charts or graphs and a long essay up to 250 words answering in a critical thinking of a position. Moreover, beside some personal questions in the speaking test, we are asked to argue about a particular topic or give opinion of question or argument given by the interviewer. Overall, it tests our comprehension using English.

It is important to take this test. Not only is it the requirement to pass the admission process, it could benefit us in preparing to survive during studying and living overseas, where English is the primary tool of communication. Without sufficient knowledge of English, one may be difficult to get into real life in campus.

Here it is, my new blog. I call it an official site since it is generated using my office’s domain. Nothing special about this blog. Just a blog like another blog, that consists of personal writing. Nonetheless, I hope this would be an interactive academic blog. To be specific, I would prefer to write everything under my knowledge in the domain of mathematics education. I dedicate this blog to my students.