Memory Strategies
Does this happen to you?
I can never remember what I studied!
My mind goes blank when I sit down to take a test!
I‘m just not good at taking tests!
How Memory Works
Your senses are constantly active!
You are not aware of all of this activity as much of it is unimportant.
When you want to remember something you need to move it into your short term memory.
Short Term Memory Long Term Memory
*You can only remember information in your short term memory for about 20-30 seconds without constant rehearsal or repetition.
*For example, when remembering a phone number you need to repeat it over and over again in order to write it down correctly
*You need to actively work using study strategies to move the information from your short term memory to your long term memory.
*For example just reading the information over three or four times is NOT enough to get the information into your long term memory. This is not an effective strategy.
What are some effective memory strategies?
Spaced Learning vs. Cramming
Have you ever felt like this studying for a test?
Spaced Learning
*Spaced practice is the opposite of cramming.
*Spaced practice is studying over a longer period of time.
Ex. Studying 10-30 minutes per day instead of 2-4 hours the night before a test or quiz.
*Spaced practice allows information to become better organized in your long term memory
*This allows the information to consolidate in your long Spaced practice also leads to the information being better organized in your long-term memory
Visualization
*Create a mental image of what you are studying in your head
Example: Studying the water cycle → You could imagine the clouds, then rain falling, the sun on the ground evaporating the water.
Chunking
*Break information up into smaller “chunks”
Examples:
*memorizing a cell phone number by grouping the numbers into three or fours.
*group information for a map test into cities, countries, rivers, and mountains
Acronyms
*A word made up of the letters from a list of words.
Ex. Studying the Great Lakes: “HOMES”
→ Huron
→ Ontario
→ Michigan
→ Erie
→ Superior
Mnemonic
*Is a phrase to help you remember the information.
*The words in the phrase/sentence begin with the letter of the information you are trying to remember.
Ex: Never Eat Soggy Waffles
(North, East, South, West)
Rehearsal
*You need to practice in order to remember!
*Read it! Write it! Say it! Sing it! Act it out! Whatever works for you…
Examples of rehearsal: