Study Skills Tips: Memory Techniques
Improving
your memory requires only a few techniques. Once something is stored in your
memory, it is there forever. You will be able to learn about the different
types of memories, how to improve your memory by utilizing your long-term
memory and some tips for improving your memory.
The
different types of memory are defined below:
1.
Sensory memory is like a "while you were out" slip that
you deal with and forget.
2.
Short-term memory (a few
hours with limited capacity) is like the "in-basket" used to sort out
important from non-important
information. Non-important information is forgotten; important information may be transferred to long-term
memory.
3.
Long-term memory (relatively permanent and unlimited capacity) is
like a large filing cabinet for storing important information. This is where
information that you want to remember should be stored.
Transferring
Information from Short-term to Long-term memory :
1.
Schedule mini-review sessions right after class. This is the first
step to getting that information into long-term memory.
2.
Talk about the lecture with another student. The more ways you
learn a subject, the more likely you are to remember it.
3.
Rewrite notes to incorporate lecture and textbook information the
same day of lecture.
4.
Present
information you've learned to someone else - your roommate, your fish, or your
parents.
Tips
for Improving Memory
Experiment
with different memory techniques to discover which one works best for you. Here
are several techniques to try:
1.
Association - Relate
new information to something you already know. An isolated idea/fact is hard to
remember. If you associate it with information that already makes sense to you,
it will be more meaningful and easier to organize and remember. For example,
you can remember that a cow's heart has four chambers by remembering that your
heart has four chambers.
2.
Visualize - Organize
information into a valid, clear mental picture. For example, to remember the
necessary elements of a novel, form a picture of all the important characters
dressed in the style of the period doing something representative of the
character, etc.
3.
Mnemonic Aids - For information that defines
association or visualization, adapt a memory technique. Some mnemonic devices
include: • Acronyms - Form a word from the first letter of each word in a
series. For example, use "HOMES"
for recalling the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
4.
Reciting- Recite
terms and phrases by glancing at the key words on your summary sheets and then
practice the ideas and principles until you know them inside and out!
5.
Acrostics- An acrostic is when you make a
nonsense phrase so the first letter of each word
Represents an element in the phrase.
For example use “Every Good Boy
Does Fine” to recall the E, G, B, D and F lines of the treble music staff.
6.
Poems and
Rhymes-
create short catchy sayings that include the essential information.
For example
try “in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Rehearsing Speeches Trying to memorize facts
for a test is much different than trying to memorize a speech. Everyone, at
some point in their life will need to
give a speech. It could be at school, at work or at your child’s wedding. Below
you will find some pointers to overcome the anxiety of public speaking.
7.
After your speech is prepared, divide it into one-to-two minute
segments.
8.
Briefly review your notes for one segment.
9.
Deliver this portion of the speech from memory (without notes).
10. Refer to
notes to see if anything was omitted.
11. Deliver the
entire one-to-two minute segment from memory again. Repeat this process until you can deliver each
segment of your speech flawlessly. After you have mastered each segment,
schedule several review sessions leading up to the presentation date. This
helps to transfer the speech to long-term memory. On the day of the speech,
repeat the core ideas from each segment in rapid succession. This helps your
mind anticipate the next segment as you finish the previous one (like you anticipate
the next song on a well-known CD.)
11.
