Remember the time when Sheldon Cooper explained to Bernadette why he is always poking at Howard? He said, ‘It began a decade ago, on that day Howard Wolowitz first laid eyes on me. He said I looked like a cross between C-3PO and Pee-wee Herman.’ He used it as a defense for how he was treating Howard.
Now, this teaches us two things. One, knowingly or unknowingly, we remember the most unimportant things for years, and two, we do not have an eidetic memory like Sheldon. Students can relate to both.
On that note, let’s take you through 8 memorization techniques for students to remember the more important things. Things that will decide how good you are in your studies.
How Does Your Memory Work?
Before going into the techniques, let us take you through the ways your memory works. This will also help you understand why you struggle with the material you’re studying and trying to remember things.
A. Encoding
The brain converts sensory information into a form that can be stored. The method can happen through visual, acoustic, or semantic ways. In this method, attention plays a major role. Not paying attention will lead to improper encoding.
B. Storage
The information is stored in the brain, with memories moving from short-term to long-term storage. Short-term memory holds information temporarily, while long-term memory stores it for an extended period.
C. Retrieval
Retrieval is the process of accessing stored information when needed. You can use recall or recognition to retrieve information you have learned. Your brain uses cues or triggers to access memories in this memorization process when you need to recall certain information.
These are the basics of how your memory systems work. However, before you start thinking this is a science class, let us cut to the chase and take you through the different memorization strategies for students to enhance memory and recall information whenever necessary.
The Effective Memorization Techniques for Students
There are quite a few memorization techniques students can use to learn the material and score well on exams, quizzes, and assignments. While we cannot guarantee these will make you the next Dr. Cooper, they will help you be close to a good student throughout your academic career:
A. Memory Palace Technique (Method of Loci)
This technique is also known as the method of loci. It is a simple method of memorizing information by imagining a familiar place. You can mentally place whatever you study in familiar places. When you take a mental walk through your memory palace and visit each spot, you easily remember the things you placed in each spot. Also, this is one of the most effective memorization techniques to boost your brainpower.
The technique is similar to how Mr. Sherlock Holmes placed each evidence in his mind and walked through them to remember what he saw at the crime scene. He used his spatial memory for recollecting information.
B. Chunking: Breaking Information into Manageable Units
Chunking is about grouping large pieces of information into small, more manageable chunks to make it easier to remember. Students have a tough time memorizing large pieces of information and eventually fail to do well in exams. Therefore, the best way is to break it down into manageable units for better memorization. This is also one of the effective memory improvement methods.
This can be a great way to remember the historical dates. Instead of trying to memorize the different dates, break them down and match them with the events that happened that year.
C. Spaced Repetition Method
This is one of the effective memorization techniques for studying and reviewing information in various sessions over an extended period. You must start each session after revisiting the previous session. This helps refresh your memory. Also, the technique gives your mind a lot of time to go through information and recall the material.
This is a very common technique used by students. For example, if a student studies math on Monday, they can go through the sums they completed, the next day, they sit down to study.
D. Mnemonic Devices or Using Acronyms
Using acronyms, rhymes, or other visual mnemonics can help retain information and memorize the lessons well. Further, the technique is easy and probably the most effective one. You can set acronyms the way you want to remember information and use them for recall.
Examples can include taking the first letter of the colors of the rainbow and creating an acronym to remember all of them. Websites offering online class help for students have experts who can help them understand the application of mnemonic devices.
E. Storytelling Associations
The storytelling association works well for students. You can create a story using the facts and information you come across in books. Creating a story linking the various pieces of information adds meaning and context and makes education more engaging. The brain has a natural tendency to remember narratives better than isolated facts. This can be a great way to remember things taught in an online class.
You can use the story method to remember historical events and memorize facts. Creating a story that connects the different historical events will be an effective way to memorize the lessons.
F. The Feynman Technique
The technique can also be defined as teaching to learn. This is a good way to memorize lessons. Try teaching what you have learned to your friends. It will act as a way to recall all the things you have learned, thus helping you understand the various materials.
For example, if you have learned how to solve a complex math problem, try explaining the same to your friend or anyone in your family. This will help you go through all the things you have learned and help you retain the knowledge, thus helping you get an answer to the question of how to remember faster for exams. It will also help you improve your study skills.
G. Active Recall
Don’t wait for your exams to test your knowledge. Instead, do it yourself. When you sit to revise what you have studied, don’t just go on re-reading the notes. Test yourself. Ask questions and try answering them to test your memory.
You can use flashcards or quizzes to test your knowledge and memorize the lessons better. There are various other digital tools for students that can help you with active recall. Ask your teacher to share a few questions that you can use to test yourself.
H. Mind Mapping
Connect concepts and ideas visually using mind maps to memorize the lessons. Associating new information with a visual anchor can help you recall. You must learn how to create a mind map and the ways to relate new information. This will help you memorize the various lessons and use them correctly during exams.
You can relate mind maps to history lessons as one is connected to another.
To End with,
Memorizing lessons has always been one of the most important things for students across all levels. However, only a few are able to master it and deliver when needed. For others, this is an uphill task. Implementing the techniques for memorization will be helpful. The amount of information one needs to memorize is huge, and using the good memory techniques properly can be of great help.
A word of advice to all who want to memorize the lessons taught in class: don’t keep things on hold till the last minute. Get started before it’s too late. Try going through the lessons taught in class every day to stay updated.