Memory – desres23.designandcommunication.net

by ingrid.hjelm-hansen - 27. Januar 2024

Colors in Music Education

Research shows that use of colors has a significant effect on memory. In the article The impact of colors on human memory in learning English collocations: evidence from south Asian tertiary ESL students (2020), J. Khan and C. Liu got their hypothesis confirmed. They wanted to test if students remember words better when they are written on colorful paper. The participants were parted in two different groups and thereafter tested in English collocations. The first group read the glossary on yellow paper sheets, while the second group practiced with normal black and white paper. According to the article, the first group outperformed the second.

Colors are used as tools all over the world. Personally, I have used color-coding to structure my notes and remember glossary for tests in school. In my head, different words and numbers are still connected to specific colors, and I believe it is a result of the use of colors in my notebooks. I associate several sociological glossaries with the color yellow, and picture some religious terms as red. Using colors as a memorizing technique has been helpful throughout my education.

How could this technique be used in music education?

One of my best friends used to have stickers on her piano as a child. Small pieces of masking tape with written letters were placed on the different keys (C-B). I always thought it was sort of stupid. For some reason, I considered it cheating, and thought she would never really learn the placement of the tones when she always relayed on the stickers. I might have had a point, but I now have an easier time also seeing the advantages.

I started playing the piano when I was 10 years old. Because I had been playing the trumpet for 3 years, I already knew how to read sheet music by that time. This made it easier for me to understand the placement of the tones and how they were connected. In retrospect, I truly understand that this part would be a lot more difficult for younger people without any musical knowledge. Especially children with developmental disabilities or learning disorders such as ADHD and dyslexia could struggle to read, understand and remember musical notation. I believe that stickers and the use of colors could help this group getting musical knowledge and motivation for further learning.

Children xylophones are often covered in 7 different colors. Each bar has its own color, all the way up to the second C (that shares color with the first C). When researching this topic, I quickly discovered that the color pallet is somewhat universal. The C is red, D is orange, E is yellow, F is green, G is blue, A is purple, and the B is pink. Just like the colors of the rainbow. The colors could also contribute to a better understanding of “half steps”, if the black keys were given a shade between the colors on each side.

Colors stimulate brain activity and provoke creativity. According to the Psychology of Color, all colors have different meanings and activates different parts of the brain. When implementing colors in education and connecting different tones with colors, it is important to choose the colors wisely. Certain colors contribute to improved mood, health, motivation and concentration, while other are not good for us in the long run. For instance, use of the color white in public spaces and schools has been linked to increased stress levels and reduced concentration (Grube, K.J. 2014). If colors are too intense, they can also be irritating and exhausting to look at. However, with the right wavelength, colors help us memorize and recognize differences. It also has the potential to positively address the growing issue of attention span among today’s youth.

References

Grube, K.J. (2014). Detrimental Effect of White Valued Walls in Classrooms. Educational Planning, v21 n2 p69-82.

Khan, J. & Liu, C. (2020). The impact of colors on human memory in learning English collocations: evidence from south Asian tertiary ESL students. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40862-020-00098-8

Koltuska-Haskin, B. (2023). How Colors Affect Brain Functioning. Psychology today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/how-my-brain-works/202301/how-colors-affect-brain-functioning

by katharina.rauch - 3. Dezember 202325. Januar 2024

Cognitive UX #3 // Exploring Cognitive Psychology including Key Principles.

According to the American Psychological Association, cognitive psychology is defined as a field of psychology that investigates mental processes associated with perception, attention, thinking, language, and memory. This approach, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, represents a significant departure from the behaviourist perspective prevalent at the time. Unlike behaviourism, which concentrates on observable behaviours, cognitive psychology focuses on internal mental processes. It proposes that the link between stimulus and response is not straightforward but is mediated by these complex mental processes. Cognitive psychology also differs from psychoanalysis, which emphasises instincts and unconscious forces, by its emphasis on higher mental processes. In recent years, cognitive psychology has integrated insights from computer science and artificial intelligence, particularly in the realms of information processing and information theory, further expanding its scope and understanding.¹

Cognitive Psychology, Rakhi Rajani
https://de.slideshare.net/rakhirajani/cognition-in-space-13467968

In cognitive psychology, the brain is compared to an information-processing unit. The graphic simplifies this concept to a three-part flow: input, processing and output. Input refers to the raw data taken in by our senses. This data is then processed in the complex neural circuits of our brain, a stage artistically represented by a complex and vibrant ecosystem of thoughts and interactions. The output is the culmination of this internal processing and results in the various actions and behavioral responses we exhibit. This illustration serves as a metaphor for the journey from initial sensory experience to final behavioral response and captures the essence of cognitive psychology.²

Key Principles

In the field of User Experience (UX) design, insights from cognitive psychology are instrumental in comprehending how users interact with and make decisions while engaging with digital interfaces. To integrate cognitive psychology into UX design effectively, designers should consider several fundamental principles.³

Perception: How do users perceive and interpret information, including color, typography, and visual hierarchy?
This involves understanding how users perceive and interpret information. In the context of user experience, this includes how colors, typography, and visual hierarchy affect a user’s ability to process and understand information. For example, certain colors can evoke specific emotions or draw attention, while the choice of typography can affect readability. Visual hierarchy helps in guiding the user’s eye through the content, prioritizing certain elements over others.
Attention: How do users process information and what captures their attention?
This topic explores what captures and holds a user’s attention. In the digital realm, this could refer to how users focus on certain aspects of a website or app, like banners, pop-ups, or video content. Understanding attention helps in designing interfaces that are engaging and don’t overwhelm or confuse the user. It’s crucial in determining where to place important information or calls to action.
Thinking: How do users make decisions and form opinions based on information and evidence?
This area focuses on how users make decisions and form opinions based on the information presented to them. In user experience, this can relate to how users navigate a website and what influences their decision to make a purchase, click a link, or trust the credibility of the content. It involves understanding the logical processes and emotional influences behind user decisions.
Language: How does language in digital interfaces affect user cognition and behavior?
In cognitive psychology, language is vital for user experience design. It includes the choice of words, tone, and clarity in digital interfaces. Effective language use can significantly impact how users understand and interact with digital content, guiding their decisions and overall engagement. It emphasizes the need for clear, user-friendly communication tailored to the audience’s needs.
Memory: How do users store and retrieve information from memory?
This topic deals with how users store and retrieve information. In terms of user interface design, it’s important to understand how users remember information from one part of an interface to another, or from one visit to the next. This understanding can guide the design of navigation menus, the layout of information, and the overall user interface to make it more intuitive and easier to remember how to use.
Problem-Solving: How do users navigate and make decisions when faced with a problem or task?
This refers to how users approach and resolve tasks or challenges. In a digital context, this could be how users find information on a website, complete a complex task in an application, or navigate through a troubleshooting process. Understanding the problem-solving process helps in designing interfaces that support and guide the user through these tasks efficiently and effectively, reducing frustration and increasing satisfaction.