Improving Your Memory
The things we remember with ease are those we come across time and
time again-our face in the mirror, our home address, etc. This simple fact
of familiarity is central to the learning process-to learn we must remember
and to remember we must make ourselves familiar with the subject in
4R method of learning
Read, Recite, (w)Rite, Repeat.
Read your text
You might find that colored pens are useful to help you underline major
headings and other important points.
It is important to go through your notes within twenty-four hours of the
lecture. If you wait beyond that time to revise them, you will probably
suffer a memory loss of up to 80 % of the material which you did not get
down in your notes but which you may want to recall. Therefore, the sooner
you go through your notes after a lecture, the better they are likely to be.
During the recitation process, try to use the examples, charts, and graphs
to help your memory.
Take frequent but short breaks to allow your mind to rest. Just standing
up, and stretching and shaking your arms and legs for a minute can be
helpful. A one- or two-minute break can easily be extended to thirty
minutes or even an hour. Beware !
Write as vou recite
Once you have read through your notes and mentally recited the maj or
points, the test of whether you know the material is to write down the points
on paper. If you can’t write the points down, then you don’t know the
material well enough. When writing, don’t try to reproduce what you
learned word for word. Use abbreviations, first letters of words, and any
other short hand that comes to mind.
Repeat the lecture
You Will probably need to go through your notes as many as five or more
times. The number will depend upon the difficulty of the material, your
interest and motivation, and, of course, the amount of time available before
the examinations begin.
As you go through your notes or text, you will find that the task becomes
easier. By the fifth or sixth journey, you will feel more and more satisfied
and fulfilled as you demonstrate to yourself that you have a reasonable grasp
of the material. The more that glow of confidence can accompany you into
the examination room, the better will be the end result.
Memorizing with n tape recorder :
A tape recorder can be a useful air in memory work. A cassette recorder,
especially the small walkfalong models with lightweight earphones, can be
used for revision.
Use your creative talents :
When trying to memorize a complex chemistry formula, think about the
possibility of making a cartoon or picture out of it.
A-apply, C-eartoon, T-try, I-imagine,
0-orate, N-negate negatives be positive.