Memory Tips for Improved Recall

MEMORY TIPS Dr. Michelle Nicopolis, PC, NCC Cuyahoga Community College Phone: 216-987-5200 michelle.nicopolis@tri-c.edu

WHAT IS MEMORY? • Each memory involves millions of nerve cells connected by firing chemical messages to each other • When a series of cells connects = a memory • The more times it connects, the stronger and more easily accessible the memory becomes

TYPES OF MEMORY: USE IT OR LOSE IT! http://www-static.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_winter/Topics/human-cap/memory.html

MAKING AN EFFORT TO REMEMBER • The brain prioritizes by meaning, value and relevance • To have meaning, you must understand what you are learning • Move to remember! • Positive, relaxed attitude & learning during peak energy time improves memory • Keep yourself healthy! Water, exercise, nourishment • Must be interested and think that information has value (study partner, study groups, talk with teacher…)

ASSOCIATIONS Every piece of information in our memory is connected to other pieces in one way or another. For Example: Apple Red, Round, Sweet, Teacher, Tree, Fruit

MNEMONIC DEVICES Tricks that can increase your ability to recall everything from grocery lists to speeches • Rely only on memorization, not understanding • Sometimes time-consumingto learn mnemonic • Can be forgotten (Ellis, “Becoming a Master Student”, 2009)

RHYMES & SILLY SONGS • I before e except after c • In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue • HALLOWEEN spells Halloween • 1-800-SAFE AUTO

ACRONYMS • Words created from first letters of a series of words • ROY G. BIV (Colors of the rainbow) • NBA (National Basketball Association) • SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

ACROSTICS • *A sentence to help you remember a series of letters that stand for something • Never Eat Sour Watermelon • Every Good Boy Does Fine • My Dear Aunt Sally • My Very EfficientMother Just Saved Up Nine Pennies

LEARNING LARGE LISTS • Helpful for essay tests or tests with lots of information • Example: Causes of the Civil War • No financial backing from wealthy • No investment from industry • Social causes • No tolerance for Lincoln • Desire to keep plantation economy • Economic causes • Moral concern about slavery • Lack of capital to buy ammunition • Political causes • Desire of South to keep power • Desire to maintain “Southern Way of Life”

ORGANIZE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY Causes of the Civil War Social Causes • Moral Concern over Slavery • Desire to Maintain “Southern Way of Life Economic Causes • No Financial Backing from wealthy • No investment from industry • Desire to Keep Plantation Economy • Lake of Capital to buy ammunition Political Causes • No tolerance for Lincoln • Desire of South to keep power

CHUNKING • George Miller (1950) “The Magical Number Seven, Plus of Minus Two” • STM – recall 7 numbers (+/-2) a few minutes after being told the numbers once • Mnemonic technique • Put items together to make larger units • Then, recall unit and each part • http://daphne.palomar.edu/stat/mark/stm%20chunking.htm

REMEMBER THIS NUMBER… 715346395309

What number did you record? • What method did you use?

TRY AGAIN…WITH CHUNKING! 715 346 395 309

Now what number did you record? • 715 346 395 309

METHOD OF LOCI • About 20 items • Visual/spatial learners • Put items “in a place” familiar to you • Visualize/draw your house (classroom) & put items in rooms • http://cat.xula.edu/thinker/memory/strategies/loci

CHAINING • Ordered or unordered lists • Verbal/auditory/narrative • Create a story where each word or idea you have to remember cues the next idea to recall • Funnier the better

IMMEDIATE REVIEW • Think about the topic • Reread notes • Rewrite notes • Recite/talk about notes • Teach the topic

REMEMBERING NAMES • Repeat name right away aloud (“nice to meet you, Jack”) • Repeat name to self • Visualize name on person’s head • Pick something about the person that reminds you of him • Write it down

QUESTIONS? What is one new memory tip you will try?

Memory Tips for Improved Recall