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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Integrated Memory Training (IMT)

1. Integrated Memory Training (IMT)

The German Bundesverband Gedächtnistraining e.V. (BVGT) developed special training material for German trainers. The training consists of three seminars. One ground level and two advanced level seminars (40 hours each). A memory trainer is required to attend all three of them before certification.

Integrated Memory Training comprises:

• Cognitive exercises: word and language games that train vocabulary, language skills, intellectual agility, creation of associations, attention span and concentration, reproduction and intellectual agility.
• Special exercises that train perceptive faculties: vision, hearing, sense of smell, sense of taste and sense of touch, and creativity.
• Psychomotoric exercises that positively influence the intake of oxygen, stimulate the heart rate and the psyche of an individual.
• Social contacts

2. Bundesverband Gedächtnistraining e.V., Essen

• The German BVGT(German Association for Integrated Memory Training) was founded in 1987 and has about 3500 members today, all certified memory trainers. Most trainers offer 1 - 2 seminars of IMT each week. Thus the German memory trainers reach about 40 000 students/week. About 40 trainer instructors are working in all parts of Germany training trainers.
• The board of directors and the advisory council of the BVGT`s goal is maintaining a high standard of qualification by regular follow up seminars for its members - a minimum of 12 hours every 3 years are compulsory. These seminars consist of e.g. lectures on new research results, memory training techniques, working papers for different target groups - adults, seniors, people who suffer from dementia etc. The BVGT is furthermore concerned that the working material is continuously updated and the qualified work of its trainers is evaluated.

3. Projects

Interviews of active trainers

In 2000 - 2001 the BVGT carried out its first research project which involved detailed interviews of 1000 active memory trainers from all over Germany. In questionnaires memory trainers were asked to answer questions regarding their work as memory trainers, their level of motivation, the time they invest in preparing and presenting their seminars and their impression of the students' benefits from memory training. The evaluation of the questionnaires was carried out by the DZFA (Deutsches Zentrum für Alternsforschung, Heidelberg). The results of the evaluation were taken into account by memory trainers and were published in the periodical of the BVGT (denkzettel).

Memorizing

In 2002 the BVGT attempted the evaluation of one element of IMT i.e. the ability of memorizing as another research project. In cooperation with the above mentioned institute (DZFA - Mike Martin and Ives Bellon) and The University of Florida (Robin West, Ph.D.) a workshop for 40 interested memory trainers was initiated. The project was carried out with volunteers who either had no prior or very limited experience in the field of memory training. In 8 German cities 9 groups of volunteers (about 261 persons between the age 50 -70 ) were offered a short, but intensive training for the memorization and recollection of shopping lists with the techniques of association and categorization employed by the BVGT trainers. The volunteers were furthermore instructed in analyzing texts with the use of the PQRST technique (peruse - form questions - read thoroughly - state the central ideas - test the acquired knowledge). All volunteers took part in a preliminary test. Afterwards one half attended 3 weeks of training. The first follow up test was again attended by all volunteers. Afterwards the control group was offered the same training. The project finished with a follow up test for all volunteers. The tests were performed with and without time limits.

The evaluation of this project confirmed that adults can improve their mental performance even by short trainings. However another finding was, that not all participants applied the trained strategies. It can therefore be assumed, that a 3 weeks training period is too short to accomplish this.

4. Summary

The BVGT started the (first two) of the above mentioned projects in order to be able to guarantee memory trainers a high qualification standard and because it strives to improve the effectiveness of IMT and the work of its memory trainers. When the questionnaires of the first project were evaluated by the DFZA a vast amount of information about trainers, their work habits and their students was collected and complied by the BVGT and its members. The evaluation of the second project confirmed that adults can improve their mental performance even by a short training period. In a third step the BVGT is motivating its members through special schooling and working papers (Lust auf Evaluation, 2005) to evaluate their work regularly, so that research and practical work can complement one another.

Definition of "Integrated Memory Training"

Integrated Memory Training (IMT) combines intellectual challenges, physical exercises and social interaction. It is offered in Germany by trainers organized by the German Bundesverband Gedächtnistraining e. V. (German Federal Association for Integrated Memory Training).

The IMT curriculum is constantly updated and adapted to the needs of different target groups and constantly brought into step with the latest relevant results of scientific research.

Training:

The training consists of three seminars: One ground level and two advanced level seminars (40 hours each). Memory trainers are required to attend all three seminars to attain certification, which expires after a period of three years. It is mandatory for trainers to attend an additional refresher course (12 hours) to have their certificate renewed.

Aspects of Integrated Memory Training:

IMT is designed to increase a student’s power of recall and deals with the following important aspects.

• Cognitive exercises word and language games focussed on increasing one’s vocabulary, language skills, eloquence, intellectual agility and flexibility, ability to create associations, imagination and creative skills, visualization, concentration and attention span, and other cognitive abilities.
• Special exercises that enhance perceptive faculties such as: audio-visual acuity, as well as the primary senses of smell, taste and touch.
• Physical exercises that have a positive influence on the cardio-vascular system and the psyche of the individual.
• Social interaction among students.

Target groups:

Children of school age, students, working people and homemakers. Many seniors who enrol in memory training classes express their delight on the combined benefits of stimulating body, mind and soul.

(Feb.9, 2009)