We all face this issue that while reading we feel we have absorbed the entire material but as soon as we close the book, half of the matter evaporates and within a week, most of it is wiped out from our mind. Here we will discuss a few smart studying and note-taking techniques for better Retention:
Technique 1: The Cornell Note-taking System by Walter Pauk
- It involves dividing a sheet of paper into three sections:
- A main note-taking section: used to capture the most important points and details from the lecture or reading.
- A cue or recall column: is used to write down questions, keywords, and other cues that will help the student remember and review the material later.
- A summary section: is used to provide a brief overview of the notes and to highlight the main points and key ideas.
Pauk emphasizes the importance of active listening and engagement during note-taking, and encourages students to ask questions, take notes on important details, and summarize key points throughout the lecture or reading.
Technique 2: The Pomodoro Technique:
This technique involves breaking studying sessions into 25-minute intervals, separated by 5-minute breaks. After four intervals, take a longer break. The goal is to increase focus and productivity by working in shorter, more manageable increments.
Technique 3: SQ3R: SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review:
This method involves surveying the text before reading, formulating questions based on the material, reading actively and taking notes, reciting the material to reinforce learning, and reviewing the material regularly.
Technique 4: Mind Mapping:
Mind mapping is a visual way to organize and connect information. It involves creating a diagram with a central idea in the middle, and then branching out with related ideas and details. This technique is particularly useful for subjects that involve a lot of interconnected information. One of the most highly recommended books on mind mapping is “The Mind Map Book” by Tony Buzan.
Technique 5: Mnemonics
Memory techniques, also known as mnemonic techniques, are strategies that can be used to improve memory and help people remember information more effectively. Here are some steps you can take to use mnemonics effectively:
- Identify the information you need to remember: This could be a list of terms, dates, or facts that you need to recall for a test or exam.
- Create an association: Once you have identified the information you need to remember, create an association between the information and something that is more familiar to you. This could be a word, image, or phrase that you can easily recall.
- Use a memory technique: There are several memory techniques you can use to create associations between the information you need to remember and something familiar. Here are a few examples:
- Acronyms: Use the first letter of each word to create a new word or phrase. For example, HOMES can be used to remember the names of the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior).
- Imagery: Create a mental image that connects the information you need to remember with something you can easily visualize. For example, to remember the order of the planets from the sun, you could create a mental image of a mnemonic phrase like “My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos” (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
- The Link Method: This technique involves creating an association or link between two unrelated items that you need to remember. For example, if you need to remember a list of grocery items–Eggs; Bread; Milk; Cheese
- To use the link method to remember these items, you could imagine a carton of eggs with a slice of bread on top of it. The bread is bouncing up and down as if it’s on a trampoline.
- Next, imagine the bread flying through the air and landing in a carton of milk. The milk splashes up and covers the bread.
- Then, imagine a block of cheese with a straw sticking out of it. The straw is sipping up the milk and bread mixture.
- Finally, imagine the cheese melting and oozing all over a frying pan.
By creating these vivid mental images, you can create strong links between each item on your grocery list, making it easier to remember them. When you’re at the store, you can recall the mental images and use them to remember the items you need to buy. Same method can be applied to remember study material.
- The Loci Method: Also known as the “memory palace” technique, this involves mentally placing the items you need to remember in specific locations or rooms within a familiar building or location. Here’s an example of how to use the loci method to remember a speech:
- Choose a location: First, choose a familiar location that you know very well, such as your house, office, or school. Imagine walking through the location in your mind, and mentally place the key points of your speech in different locations throughout the space.
- Assign information to locations: As you mentally walk through your chosen location, assign key points of your speech to specific locations. For example, you could place the opening statement at the front door, the first main point in the living room, the second main point in the kitchen, and so on. Imagine each key point in as much detail as possible, using all of your senses to create a vivid mental image.
- Practice mentally walking through the location: As you practice, imagine each location in as much detail as possible, using all of your senses to make the mental image as vivid as possible.
- Deliver your speech: When it comes time to deliver your speech, mentally walk through your chosen location in your mind, recalling each key point as you reach its assigned location.
- The Peg System: This method involves creating a set of “pegs,” or predetermined mental images or associations, that can be used to remember specific items or pieces of information. For example, you might create a set of pegs based on the numbers 1-10, and then use those pegs to remember a list of ten items. Here are some common pegs:
- 1-Sun
- 2-Swan
- 3-Tree
- 4-Chair
- 5-Gloves
- 6-shooter
- 7-Heaven
- 8-Skate
- 9-Cat
- 10-Hockey Stick
- For example, if you wanted to remember the number 4 and associate it with the word “Diamond,” you might picture a Chair where Queen is seated wearing her Diamond Crown. By creating a strong mental image that connects the peg to the item you want to remember, you can more easily recall the information later on.
- The Phonetic System: This technique involves creating a set of associations between letters or sounds and specific objects or items that you need to remember. For example, you might associate the letter “B” with a banana, or the sound “sh” with a shoe.
By using these dynamic memory methods, you can improve your memory skills and become more effective at remembering and recalling information.
3 highly recommended books on mnemonics:
- “Moonwalking with Einstein” by Joshua Foer: While not exclusively about mnemonics, this book provides a fascinating exploration of memory techniques and the world of memory athletes.
- “Mnemonics for Study” by Fiona McPherson: This book focuses specifically on mnemonics as a study aid. It provides practical strategies for using mnemonic techniques to remember lists, dates, facts, foreign languages, and more. The book also includes tips for improving concentration and motivation.
- “The Memory Book” by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas: This classic book provides a comprehensive guide to memory training, including mnemonic techniques for remembering numbers, names, and faces, as well as tips for improving concentration and creativity.
Whether you are a student looking to improve your study skills or simply interested in unlocking the potential of your memory, these books are highly recommended.
To get the free ebook of above-mentioned books, you can drop your request in the comment section.
Stay blessed and Happy Reading!
