MS ch. 3: 20 Memory Techniques

organize it

Be selectivve

key points

bold

visuals

emphasis during lecture

make it meaningful

general to specific

main idea?

what is the big picture?

create associations

new data?

Similar or related date?

Use your Brain

engage your emotions

amygdala

r

Area of brain becomes very active with strong emotions

relate to a goal

create interest

overlearn

fights mental fuzziness

good for problem solving

escape short-term memory trap

review within minutes of learning new material

frequent mini-reviews

distribute learning

several short study sessions spaced over time

reward self with breaks in study

mind continues to review during breaks

avoids burn out or mental shut down

consolidation

r

time the brain takes to rewire itself by grwoing new neural traces after learning a new concept

be aware of attitudes

people can forget information that contridicts our opinions

math is hard

cant memorize formulas

history is boring

problems memorizing dates and places

look for connections that relate to interests

notice attitudes and be willing to put them on hold

elaborate

elaboration

r

consciously encoding new informaton

repetition

Does this remind me of something or someone i already know

is this similar to a technique that i already use

where and when can i use this information

intend to remember

learn it now vs. later

pay attention to your attention

use your body

Learn actively

energy

sit up straight

pace

ask questions

read out loud

Relax

state of alertness

free of tension

Create pictures

diagrams

cartoons

anchors information into second part of brain

Recite and repeat

out loud

repetition

recite in own words

Write it down

Recall It

remember something else related to it

brainstorm

memory job

associated memories

notice when you do remember something easily

What makes things easier to remember?

What makes things more difficult to remember?

use it before you lose it

neural traces become faint with disuse

access it frequently to develope traces

teach to learn

teaching demands mastery of topic

reveals gaps in understanding

adopt the attitude you never forget

positive

"it will come to me later"

i can remember just not right now

negative

i'll never remember all of this

negative talk is self fufilling

positive affirmations