{"id":78,"date":"2014-08-25T03:19:35","date_gmt":"2014-08-25T03:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/collegesuccess1x1\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=78"},"modified":"2015-06-29T12:21:06","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T12:21:06","slug":"remembering-course-materials","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/monroe-collegesuccess-thirdedition\/chapter\/remembering-course-materials\/","title":{"raw":"Remembering Course Materials","rendered":"Remembering Course Materials"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Identify what is important to remember.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Understand the difference between short- and long-term memory.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Use a variety of strategies to build your memory power.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Identify the four key types of mnemonic devices.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Use mnemonics to remember lists of information.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>The Role of Memorization in Learning<\/h2>\r\nHave you ever gone into an exam you have studied for and drawn a blank on a particular question? Have you ever walked into a room only to forget for a moment why you went there? Have you ever forgotten where you left your keys? The fact is, memory fails everyone from time to time. It is not surprising that students, with a huge amount of information they must commit to memory (not to mention frequent distractions and interruptions), are often frustrated by their memory.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s start by taking some of the pressure off you. You will not be required to memorize everything your instructor says in a class. People speak at a rate of 100 to 150 words per minute. An average 50-minute lecture may contain around 7,500 words. By listening effectively and taking notes, your job is to distill the main ideas and a few keywords. These are the things you should choose to memorize.\r\n\r\nUnderstanding themes and ideas and being able to think critically about them is\u00a0more important\u00a0to your academic success\u00a0than memorizing information, but having a good memory is still an\u00a0important skill to develop.\u00a0Memory helps capture ideas in your mind and is essential in\u00a0certain subjects like the sciences and foreign languages.\r\n<h2>How Memory Works<\/h2>\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Memory<\/span><\/span> is the process of storing and retrieving information. Think of a computer. In many ways it is similar an electronic model of the human memory. A computer stores, retrieves, and processes information similarly to how the human mind does. Like the human version, there are two types of memory: short-term or active memory (RAM in the computer) and long-term or passive memory (the computer\u2019s hard drive). As its name suggests, short-term or active memory is made up of the information being captured at the moment, such as listening in class, as well as from information retrieved from our passive memory for doing complex mental tasks, such as thinking critically and drawing conclusions.\r\n\r\nShort-term memory is limited and suffers from the passing of time and lack of use. We begin to forget data within thirty seconds of not using it, and interruptions like\u00a0phone calls or\u00a0texts require us to rebuild the short-term memory structure to get back on task. To keep information in our memory, we must either use it or place it into our long-term memory much like saving a document on\u00a0the computer.\r\n\r\nHow we save information to our long-term memory has a lot to do with our ability to retrieve it when we need it at a later date. Our mind \u201csaves\u201d information by creating a complex series of links to the data. The stronger the links, the easier it is to recall.\r\n\r\n<img class=\" wp-image-1764 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/06\/21143105\/images.jpg\" alt=\"images\" width=\"361\" height=\"202\" \/>\r\n\r\nYou can strengthen these links by using the following strategies. Note how closely they are tied to good listening and note-taking strategies.\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Make a deliberate decision to remember the specific data.<\/strong> \u201cI need to remember Richard\u2019s name\u201d creates stronger links than just wishing you had a better memory for names.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Link the information to your everyday life.<\/strong> Ask and answer the question, \u201cWhy is it important that I remember this material?\u201d<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Link the information to other information you\u00a0have stored. <\/strong>Ask yourself how this is related to other information you have, and look for ways to tie items together, especially the key themes of the course.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Mentally group similar individual items into \u201cbuckets.\u201d<\/strong> By doing this, you are creating links. For example, if you have to memorize a vocabulary list for a Spanish class, group the nouns together with other nouns, verbs with verbs, and so forth.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Use visual imagery.<\/strong> Picture the concept vividly in your mind. Make those images big, bold, colorful, and even silly! Humor and crazy imagery can help you recall key concepts.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Use the information.<\/strong> Studies have generally shown that we retain only 5 percent of what we hear, 10 percent of what we read, 20 percent of what we learn from multimedia, and 30 percent of what is demonstrated to us, but we retain 50 percent of what we discuss, 75 percent of what we practice by doing, and 90 percent of what we teach others or use immediately in a relevant activity.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Break information down into manageable \u201cchunks.\u201d<\/strong> Memorizing the ten-digit number \u201c3141592654\u201d seems difficult, but breaking it down into two sets of three digits and one of four digits, like a phone number\u2014(314) 159-2654\u2014now makes it easier to remember. (Did you recognized that series of digits: with a decimal point after the three? It\u2019s the value of pi to ten digits.)<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Work from general information to specific.<\/strong> People usually learn best when they get the big picture first and then look at the details.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142901\/notetaker.jpg\"><img class=\" size-medium wp-image-642 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142901\/notetaker-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Arm of a woman taking notes in class\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a>Eliminate distractions.<\/strong> Multitasking, such as listening to music or chatting on Facebook while you study, will play havoc with your ability to memorize because you will need to reboot your short-term memory each time you switch mental tasks.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Repeat, repeat, repeat.<\/strong> Hear the information. Read it. Write it. Say it out loud and then say it again. The more you use or repeat the information, the stronger the links to it. The more senses you use to process the information, the stronger the memorization.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>This is a test.<\/strong> Test your memory often. Try to write down everything you know about a specific subject from memory. Then go back and check your notes and textbook to see how you did. Practicing retrieval in this way helps ensure long-term learning of facts and concepts. Test yourself with flashcards. Have others ask you questions, if possible.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Location, location, location.<\/strong> There is often a strong connection between information and the place where you first received that information. Picture where you were sitting in the\u00a0class or during reading\u00a0as you repeat the facts in your mind.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Just for Fun<\/h3>\r\nChoose a specific fact from each of your classes on a given day. Now find a way of working that information into your casual conversations during the rest of the day in a way that is natural. Can you do it? What effect do you think that will have on your memory of that information?\r\n<h3>Exercise Your Memory<\/h3>\r\nRead the following list for about twenty seconds. After you have read it, cover it and write down all the items you remember.\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Arch<\/td>\r\n<td>Pen<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Chowder<\/td>\r\n<td>Maple<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Airplane<\/td>\r\n<td>Window<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Kirk<\/td>\r\n<td>Scotty<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Paper clip<\/td>\r\n<td>Thumb drive<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Column<\/td>\r\n<td>Brownies<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Oak<\/td>\r\n<td>Door<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Subway<\/td>\r\n<td>Skateboard<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Leia<\/td>\r\n<td>Cedar<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Fries<\/td>\r\n<td>Luke<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nHow many were you able to recall? Most people can remember only a fraction of the items.\r\n\r\nNow read the following list for about twenty seconds, cover it, and see how many you remember.\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Fries<\/td>\r\n<td>Skateboard<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Chowder<\/td>\r\n<td>Subway<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Brownies<\/td>\r\n<td>Luke<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Paper clip<\/td>\r\n<td>Leia<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Pen<\/td>\r\n<td>Kirk<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Thumb drive<\/td>\r\n<td>Scotty<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Oak<\/td>\r\n<td>Column<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Cedar<\/td>\r\n<td>Window<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Maple<\/td>\r\n<td>Door<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Airplane<\/td>\r\n<td>Arch<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nDid your recall improve? Why do you think you did better? Was it easier?\r\n\r\nMost people take much less time doing this version of the list and remember almost all the terms. The list is the same as the first list, but the words have now been grouped into categories. Use this grouping method to help you remember lists of mixed words or ideas.\r\n<h2>Using Mnemonics<\/h2>\r\nWhat do the names of the Great Lakes, the makings of a Big Mac, and the number of days in a month have in common? They are easily remembered by using mnemonic devices. <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Mnemonics<\/span><\/span> (pronounced neh-MA-nicks) are tricks for memorizing lists and data. They create\u00a0strong links to the data, making recall easier. The most commonly used mnemonic devices are acronyms, acrostics, rhymes, and jingles.\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\"><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142906\/great-lakes.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-648\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142906\/great-lakes-300x170.jpg\" alt=\"Map of US Great Lakes\" width=\"300\" height=\"170\" \/><\/a><strong>Acronyms<\/strong><\/span><\/span> are words or phrases made up by using the first letter of each word in a list or phrase. Need to remember the names of the Great Lakes? Try the acronym HOMES using the first letter of each lake:\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>H<\/strong>uron<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>O<\/strong>ntario<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>M<\/strong>ichigan<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>E<\/strong>rie<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>S<\/strong>uperior<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nTo create an acronym, first write down the first letters of each term you need to memorize. Then rearrange the letters to create a word or words. You can find acronym generators online (just search for \u201cacronym generator\u201d) that can help you by offering options. Acronyms work best when your list of letters includes vowels as well as consonants and when the order of the terms is not important. If no vowels are available, or if the list should be learned in a particular order, try using an acrostic instead.\r\n\r\n<strong><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Acrostics<\/span><\/span><\/strong> are similar to acronyms in that they work off the first letter of each word in a list, but rather than using them to form a word, the letters are represented by entire words in a sentence or phrase. If you\u2019ve studied music, you may be familiar with \u201cEvery Good Boy Deserves Fudge\u201d to learn the names of the notes on the lines of the musical staff: E, G, B, D, F. The ridiculous and therefore memorable line, \u201cMy Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas\u201d was used by many of us to remember the names of the planets (at least until Pluto was downgraded):\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>My<\/td>\r\n<td>Mercury<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Very<\/td>\r\n<td>Venus<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Educated<\/td>\r\n<td>Earth<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Mother<\/td>\r\n<td>Mars<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Just<\/td>\r\n<td>Jupiter<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Served<\/td>\r\n<td>Saturn<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Us<\/td>\r\n<td>Uranus<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Nine<\/td>\r\n<td>Neptune<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Pizzas<\/td>\r\n<td>Pluto<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nTo create an acrostic, list the first letters of the terms to be memorized in the order in which you want to learn them. Then create a sentence or phrase using words that start with those letters.\r\n\r\n<strong><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Rhymes<\/span><\/span><\/strong> are short verses used to remember data. A common example is \u201cIn fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.\u201d Writing rhymes is a talent that can be developed with practice. To start, keep your rhymes short and simple. Define the key information you want to remember and break it down into a series of short phrases. Look at the last words of the phrases: can you rhyme any of them? If they don\u2019t rhyme, can you substitute or add a word to create the rhyme? (For example, in the Columbus rhyme, \u201cninety-two\u201d does not rhyme with \u201cocean,\u201d but adding the word \u201cblue\u201d completes the rhyme and creates the mnemonic.)\r\n\r\n<strong><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Jingles<\/span><\/span><\/strong> are phrases set to music so that the music helps trigger your memory. Jingles are commonly used by advertisers to get you to remember their product or product features. Remember \u201cTwo all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun,\u201d the original Big Mac commercial? Anytime you add rhythm to the terms you want to memorize, you are activating your auditory sense, and the more senses you use for memorization, the stronger the links to the data you are creating in your mind. To create a jingle for your data, start with a familiar tune and try to create alternate lyrics using the terms you want to memorize. Another approach you may want to try is reading your data aloud in a hip-hop or rap music style.\r\n<h3>Creative Memory Challenge<\/h3>\r\nCreate an acrostic to remember the noble gasses: helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and the radioactive radon (Rn).\r\n\r\nCreate an acronym to remember the names of the G8 group of countries: France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada. (Hint: Sometimes it helps to substitute terms with synonyms\u2014\u201cAmerica\u201d for the United States or \u201cEngland\u201d for the United Kingdom\u2014to get additional options.)\r\n\r\nCreate a jingle to remember the names of the Seven Dwarfs: Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.\r\n\r\nMnemonics are good memory aids, but they aren\u2019t perfect. They take a lot of effort to develop, and they also take terms out of context because they don\u2019t focus on the meaning of the words. Since they lack meaning, they can also be easily forgotten later on, but they will most likely\u00a0help you on the\u00a0test.\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\r\n<h3>Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Understanding ideas is generally more important in college than just memorizing facts.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>To keep information in our memory, we must use it or build links with it to strengthen it in long-term memory.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Key ways to remember information include linking it to other information already known; organizing facts in groups of information; eliminating distractions; and repeating the information by hearing, reading, and saying it aloud.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>To remember specific pieces of information, try creating a mnemonic that associates the information with an acronym or acrostic, a rhyme or a jingle.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\r\n<h3>Exercise<\/h3>\r\nFor each of the following statements, circle T for true or F for false:\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>T<\/td>\r\n<td>F<\/td>\r\n<td>Preparing for class is important for listening, for taking notes, and for memory.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>T<\/td>\r\n<td>F<\/td>\r\n<td>Multitasking enhances your active memory.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>T<\/td>\r\n<td>F<\/td>\r\n<td>If you listen carefully, you will remember most of what was said for three days.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>T<\/td>\r\n<td>F<\/td>\r\n<td>\u201cUse it or lose it\u201d applies to information you want to remember.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-highlight\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<p>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify what is important to remember.<\/li>\n<li>Understand the difference between short- and long-term memory.<\/li>\n<li>Use a variety of strategies to build your memory power.<\/li>\n<li>Identify the four key types of mnemonic devices.<\/li>\n<li>Use mnemonics to remember lists of information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The Role of Memorization in Learning<\/h2>\n<p>Have you ever gone into an exam you have studied for and drawn a blank on a particular question? Have you ever walked into a room only to forget for a moment why you went there? Have you ever forgotten where you left your keys? The fact is, memory fails everyone from time to time. It is not surprising that students, with a huge amount of information they must commit to memory (not to mention frequent distractions and interruptions), are often frustrated by their memory.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s start by taking some of the pressure off you. You will not be required to memorize everything your instructor says in a class. People speak at a rate of 100 to 150 words per minute. An average 50-minute lecture may contain around 7,500 words. By listening effectively and taking notes, your job is to distill the main ideas and a few keywords. These are the things you should choose to memorize.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding themes and ideas and being able to think critically about them is\u00a0more important\u00a0to your academic success\u00a0than memorizing information, but having a good memory is still an\u00a0important skill to develop.\u00a0Memory helps capture ideas in your mind and is essential in\u00a0certain subjects like the sciences and foreign languages.<\/p>\n<h2>How Memory Works<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Memory<\/span><\/span> is the process of storing and retrieving information. Think of a computer. In many ways it is similar an electronic model of the human memory. A computer stores, retrieves, and processes information similarly to how the human mind does. Like the human version, there are two types of memory: short-term or active memory (RAM in the computer) and long-term or passive memory (the computer\u2019s hard drive). As its name suggests, short-term or active memory is made up of the information being captured at the moment, such as listening in class, as well as from information retrieved from our passive memory for doing complex mental tasks, such as thinking critically and drawing conclusions.<\/p>\n<p>Short-term memory is limited and suffers from the passing of time and lack of use. We begin to forget data within thirty seconds of not using it, and interruptions like\u00a0phone calls or\u00a0texts require us to rebuild the short-term memory structure to get back on task. To keep information in our memory, we must either use it or place it into our long-term memory much like saving a document on\u00a0the computer.<\/p>\n<p>How we save information to our long-term memory has a lot to do with our ability to retrieve it when we need it at a later date. Our mind \u201csaves\u201d information by creating a complex series of links to the data. The stronger the links, the easier it is to recall.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1764 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/06\/21143105\/images.jpg\" alt=\"images\" width=\"361\" height=\"202\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can strengthen these links by using the following strategies. Note how closely they are tied to good listening and note-taking strategies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Make a deliberate decision to remember the specific data.<\/strong> \u201cI need to remember Richard\u2019s name\u201d creates stronger links than just wishing you had a better memory for names.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Link the information to your everyday life.<\/strong> Ask and answer the question, \u201cWhy is it important that I remember this material?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Link the information to other information you\u00a0have stored. <\/strong>Ask yourself how this is related to other information you have, and look for ways to tie items together, especially the key themes of the course.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mentally group similar individual items into \u201cbuckets.\u201d<\/strong> By doing this, you are creating links. For example, if you have to memorize a vocabulary list for a Spanish class, group the nouns together with other nouns, verbs with verbs, and so forth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use visual imagery.<\/strong> Picture the concept vividly in your mind. Make those images big, bold, colorful, and even silly! Humor and crazy imagery can help you recall key concepts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use the information.<\/strong> Studies have generally shown that we retain only 5 percent of what we hear, 10 percent of what we read, 20 percent of what we learn from multimedia, and 30 percent of what is demonstrated to us, but we retain 50 percent of what we discuss, 75 percent of what we practice by doing, and 90 percent of what we teach others or use immediately in a relevant activity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Break information down into manageable \u201cchunks.\u201d<\/strong> Memorizing the ten-digit number \u201c3141592654\u201d seems difficult, but breaking it down into two sets of three digits and one of four digits, like a phone number\u2014(314) 159-2654\u2014now makes it easier to remember. (Did you recognized that series of digits: with a decimal point after the three? It\u2019s the value of pi to ten digits.)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work from general information to specific.<\/strong> People usually learn best when they get the big picture first and then look at the details.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142901\/notetaker.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-642 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142901\/notetaker-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Arm of a woman taking notes in class\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a>Eliminate distractions.<\/strong> Multitasking, such as listening to music or chatting on Facebook while you study, will play havoc with your ability to memorize because you will need to reboot your short-term memory each time you switch mental tasks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repeat, repeat, repeat.<\/strong> Hear the information. Read it. Write it. Say it out loud and then say it again. The more you use or repeat the information, the stronger the links to it. The more senses you use to process the information, the stronger the memorization.<\/li>\n<li><strong>This is a test.<\/strong> Test your memory often. Try to write down everything you know about a specific subject from memory. Then go back and check your notes and textbook to see how you did. Practicing retrieval in this way helps ensure long-term learning of facts and concepts. Test yourself with flashcards. Have others ask you questions, if possible.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Location, location, location.<\/strong> There is often a strong connection between information and the place where you first received that information. Picture where you were sitting in the\u00a0class or during reading\u00a0as you repeat the facts in your mind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Just for Fun<\/h3>\n<p>Choose a specific fact from each of your classes on a given day. Now find a way of working that information into your casual conversations during the rest of the day in a way that is natural. Can you do it? What effect do you think that will have on your memory of that information?<\/p>\n<h3>Exercise Your Memory<\/h3>\n<p>Read the following list for about twenty seconds. After you have read it, cover it and write down all the items you remember.<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-spacing: 0px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Arch<\/td>\n<td>Pen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Chowder<\/td>\n<td>Maple<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Airplane<\/td>\n<td>Window<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kirk<\/td>\n<td>Scotty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Paper clip<\/td>\n<td>Thumb drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Column<\/td>\n<td>Brownies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oak<\/td>\n<td>Door<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Subway<\/td>\n<td>Skateboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Leia<\/td>\n<td>Cedar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fries<\/td>\n<td>Luke<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>How many were you able to recall? Most people can remember only a fraction of the items.<\/p>\n<p>Now read the following list for about twenty seconds, cover it, and see how many you remember.<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-spacing: 0px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Fries<\/td>\n<td>Skateboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Chowder<\/td>\n<td>Subway<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Brownies<\/td>\n<td>Luke<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Paper clip<\/td>\n<td>Leia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pen<\/td>\n<td>Kirk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Thumb drive<\/td>\n<td>Scotty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oak<\/td>\n<td>Column<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cedar<\/td>\n<td>Window<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maple<\/td>\n<td>Door<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Airplane<\/td>\n<td>Arch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Did your recall improve? Why do you think you did better? Was it easier?<\/p>\n<p>Most people take much less time doing this version of the list and remember almost all the terms. The list is the same as the first list, but the words have now been grouped into categories. Use this grouping method to help you remember lists of mixed words or ideas.<\/p>\n<h2>Using Mnemonics<\/h2>\n<p>What do the names of the Great Lakes, the makings of a Big Mac, and the number of days in a month have in common? They are easily remembered by using mnemonic devices. <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Mnemonics<\/span><\/span> (pronounced neh-MA-nicks) are tricks for memorizing lists and data. They create\u00a0strong links to the data, making recall easier. The most commonly used mnemonic devices are acronyms, acrostics, rhymes, and jingles.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\"><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142906\/great-lakes.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-648\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/560\/2015\/04\/21142906\/great-lakes-300x170.jpg\" alt=\"Map of US Great Lakes\" width=\"300\" height=\"170\" \/><\/a><strong>Acronyms<\/strong><\/span><\/span> are words or phrases made up by using the first letter of each word in a list or phrase. Need to remember the names of the Great Lakes? Try the acronym HOMES using the first letter of each lake:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>H<\/strong>uron<\/li>\n<li><strong>O<\/strong>ntario<\/li>\n<li><strong>M<\/strong>ichigan<\/li>\n<li><strong>E<\/strong>rie<\/li>\n<li><strong>S<\/strong>uperior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To create an acronym, first write down the first letters of each term you need to memorize. Then rearrange the letters to create a word or words. You can find acronym generators online (just search for \u201cacronym generator\u201d) that can help you by offering options. Acronyms work best when your list of letters includes vowels as well as consonants and when the order of the terms is not important. If no vowels are available, or if the list should be learned in a particular order, try using an acrostic instead.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Acrostics<\/span><\/span><\/strong> are similar to acronyms in that they work off the first letter of each word in a list, but rather than using them to form a word, the letters are represented by entire words in a sentence or phrase. If you\u2019ve studied music, you may be familiar with \u201cEvery Good Boy Deserves Fudge\u201d to learn the names of the notes on the lines of the musical staff: E, G, B, D, F. The ridiculous and therefore memorable line, \u201cMy Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas\u201d was used by many of us to remember the names of the planets (at least until Pluto was downgraded):<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-spacing: 0px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>My<\/td>\n<td>Mercury<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Very<\/td>\n<td>Venus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Educated<\/td>\n<td>Earth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mother<\/td>\n<td>Mars<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Just<\/td>\n<td>Jupiter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Served<\/td>\n<td>Saturn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Us<\/td>\n<td>Uranus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nine<\/td>\n<td>Neptune<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pizzas<\/td>\n<td>Pluto<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>To create an acrostic, list the first letters of the terms to be memorized in the order in which you want to learn them. Then create a sentence or phrase using words that start with those letters.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Rhymes<\/span><\/span><\/strong> are short verses used to remember data. A common example is \u201cIn fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.\u201d Writing rhymes is a talent that can be developed with practice. To start, keep your rhymes short and simple. Define the key information you want to remember and break it down into a series of short phrases. Look at the last words of the phrases: can you rhyme any of them? If they don\u2019t rhyme, can you substitute or add a word to create the rhyme? (For example, in the Columbus rhyme, \u201cninety-two\u201d does not rhyme with \u201cocean,\u201d but adding the word \u201cblue\u201d completes the rhyme and creates the mnemonic.)<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Jingles<\/span><\/span><\/strong> are phrases set to music so that the music helps trigger your memory. Jingles are commonly used by advertisers to get you to remember their product or product features. Remember \u201cTwo all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun,\u201d the original Big Mac commercial? Anytime you add rhythm to the terms you want to memorize, you are activating your auditory sense, and the more senses you use for memorization, the stronger the links to the data you are creating in your mind. To create a jingle for your data, start with a familiar tune and try to create alternate lyrics using the terms you want to memorize. Another approach you may want to try is reading your data aloud in a hip-hop or rap music style.<\/p>\n<h3>Creative Memory Challenge<\/h3>\n<p>Create an acrostic to remember the noble gasses: helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and the radioactive radon (Rn).<\/p>\n<p>Create an acronym to remember the names of the G8 group of countries: France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada. (Hint: Sometimes it helps to substitute terms with synonyms\u2014\u201cAmerica\u201d for the United States or \u201cEngland\u201d for the United Kingdom\u2014to get additional options.)<\/p>\n<p>Create a jingle to remember the names of the Seven Dwarfs: Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.<\/p>\n<p>Mnemonics are good memory aids, but they aren\u2019t perfect. They take a lot of effort to develop, and they also take terms out of context because they don\u2019t focus on the meaning of the words. Since they lack meaning, they can also be easily forgotten later on, but they will most likely\u00a0help you on the\u00a0test.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-success\">\n<h3>Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Understanding ideas is generally more important in college than just memorizing facts.<\/li>\n<li>To keep information in our memory, we must use it or build links with it to strengthen it in long-term memory.<\/li>\n<li>Key ways to remember information include linking it to other information already known; organizing facts in groups of information; eliminating distractions; and repeating the information by hearing, reading, and saying it aloud.<\/li>\n<li>To remember specific pieces of information, try creating a mnemonic that associates the information with an acronym or acrostic, a rhyme or a jingle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bcc-box bcc-info\">\n<h3>Exercise<\/h3>\n<p>For each of the following statements, circle T for true or F for false:<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-spacing: 0px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>T<\/td>\n<td>F<\/td>\n<td>Preparing for class is important for listening, for taking notes, and for memory.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>T<\/td>\n<td>F<\/td>\n<td>Multitasking enhances your active memory.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>T<\/td>\n<td>F<\/td>\n<td>If you listen carefully, you will remember most of what was said for three days.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>T<\/td>\n<td>F<\/td>\n<td>\u201cUse it or lose it\u201d applies to information you want to remember.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-78\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Revision and adaptation. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Monroe Community College. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.monroecc.edu\">http:\/\/www.monroecc.edu<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: College Orientation and Success. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Monroe contributes its revision and adaptation under the same license as the original work.<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Success in College. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: anonymous. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/\">http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of multiplication table. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Chapendra. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2USBWv\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2USBWv<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of memory card game. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Eli Duke. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/88dUQv\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/88dUQv<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of Great Lakes. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: UConn Libraries MAGIC. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/deAuxe\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/deAuxe<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":9,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Success in College\",\"author\":\"anonymous\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of multiplication table\",\"author\":\"Chapendra\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2USBWv\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of memory card game\",\"author\":\"Eli Duke\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/88dUQv\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of Great Lakes\",\"author\":\"UConn Libraries MAGIC\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/deAuxe\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Revision and adaptation\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Monroe Community College\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.monroecc.edu\",\"project\":\"College Orientation and Success\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"Monroe contributes its revision and adaptation under the same license as the original 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