Memory Improvement Tips!
By: Madison Brown
ATTENTION
Give the item you know you will need to remember your full, undivided attention when you first input it into your brain. For example, listen to the introduction being given to you instead of worrying about what you need to say after, or write down everything you have for homework in each class.
Avoid cramming by establishing regular study sessions
Avoid cramming information in one cycle of time by scheduling time for you to be able to study not all at once. Research has shown that students who study regularly remember the material far better than those who do all of their studying in one marathon session.
Repeat the Information
With everything you need to remember, use a minute or two to repeat it over and over in your mind. This works for locations, people, inanimate objects, exam notes… anything you want to stick and stay in your brain. An example would be using note cards which uses Iconic Memory. Study the definition and term as much as possible and then read a more advanced definition of this term. After repeating this process a few times, you'll probably notice that recalling the information is much easier.
Relate new information to things you already know
When you are studying unfamiliar things, relate it back to information you already know. I find that this works really well for me. By establishing relationships between new ideas and previously existing memories, you can dramatically increase the likelihood of recalling the recently learned information.
SLEEP!
Sleep is key! Getting sleep after learning new information actually leads to physical changes in the brain. Researchers have long known that sleep is important for memory and learning. Recent research has shown that taking a nap after you learn something new actually helps you learn faster and remember better.
Vary Study Routines
Instead of always studying in the same spot, try moving to different locations during your study sessions! If you study during the evening, try spending the mornings reviewing the information you studied the past night. This will refresh your memory.
Teach the new concepts you learned to another person
Research suggests that reading information out loud significantly improves your memory of the material. Studies have shown that having students explain the material to another student, the students are actually able to understand and recall the information easier.
Visualize concepts to improve memory and recall
Visualizing uses your Iconic Memory. Lots of people benefit from the use of different colored pens. Use these different colors to group related ideas in your notes. Draw charts or figures in the margins of your notes to help you remember what it looks like.
Structure and organize the information you are studying.
Researchers have found that information is organized in memory in clusters. Take advantage of this by organizing the materials you are going to be studying. Try grouping similar concepts and terms together, or make an outline of the notes and textbooks you are taking/reading to better prepare you for your tests or quizzes.
Structure and organize the information you are studying
Mnemonic devices are often times used by students to aid in recall. A mnemonic device is basically a sentence that helps us memorize a string of words. For example, in chorus, most students use the line "Every Good Boy Does Fine" to remember the order of the notes on the treble clef. My favorite is "PEMDAS" Which stands for Parentheses, exponent, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. This one is mainly used for math.
Never Eat Soggy Waffles
Stands for north, west, east, and south.
PEMDAS
Stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction.
ROY G. BIV
Stands for the color spectrum: Red, orange, green, blue, indigo, and violet.