Helping Memory Stick

Imagine working memory as a wall covered in sticky notes. Each sticky note represents a small bit of information you need to keep in your mind at that moment, like a phone number someone has just read out to you, or what you need to grab from the room you just walked into. Sticky notes are great for capturing these bits of information, but they’re not permanent. If you don’t use the information quickly, like dialling that number or fetching the item, they may start to unpeel from the wall. One by one, they fall to the floor, and once they’ve fallen, it’s hard to get them back.

For people with ADHD or other brain differences affecting executive function, the wall for their sticky notes is extra slippery. This means their sticky notes don’t stick as long, making working memory more of a challenge. It’s not that the information isn’t important or that they’re lazy or careless, it’s just that their sticky notes don’t hold on as well. Even when they’re trying hard to remember something, those sticky notes can fall before they’ve had a chance to use the information.

As instructional designers, it’s essential to recognise this challenge because working memory plays a critical role in how learners process and retain information. If we overload learners, especially those with ADHD or other neurodivergent traits, we risk overwhelming their sticky-note walls entirely.

So, how can we design eLearning to help learners keep those sticky notes in place? We can provide tools to make the sticky notes stay put longer, like using drawing pins to secure them. For example, we can provide written instructions (e.g. in a lightbox for easy access), visual aids, or reminders and knowledge checks to reinforce information. Or we can reframe the information to make it stick better, like if you sing a phone number to a catchy tune, or using a graphic or icon to represent the action they need to take.

The key is recognising that difficulties with working memory aren’t due to a lack of effort, it’s simply a difference in how the brain processes and holds information. By offering multiple ways to present and capture information in eLearning, we can ensure that every learner has a better chance to succeed. It’s all about designing the wall to work better for everyone.