Memory forms a vital aspect of any learning. Without memory all our learning will be a futile exercise. The capacity for remembering varies from people to people widely. There are some who are endowed with razor sharp memory, while others have very poor memory. Memory is more about how we use our faculty and can therefore be improved greatly. It basically involves application of the mind and can be vastly improved by using memory techniques. Some of these are:
1. If you can associate any new learning with your acquired learning you will have a greater grasp of the information learnt. You will be able to see the relation between certain principles, mechanism, truth or whatever, and see the link and the common thread running through them. This lends greater meaning and significance to the information learnt.
2. Studies have revealed that memory is augmented by using both sides of your brain. This is known as whole-brain thinking. The left side of our brain dominates in logic, words, lists, numbers, sequences and analysis, while the right side excels in rhythm, imagination, daydreaming, color, size and spatial awareness. Working on combining the left and right attributes will strengthen memory.
3. By paying proper and full attention, our understanding of the information enhances greatly.
4. You can try to visualize the information learnt by remembering in a sequence. The more bizarre, humorous, wacky and exaggerated the images are, the greater is your ability to recall.
5. You can make the main ideas or items of information interesting by weaving an unusual story. You can visualize the information as a moving sequence so the imagery is built strongly around it. This adds vividness and increases your recalling ability. For e.g., if you have to remember a poem, you can visualize the ideas contained in the poem so you have running image of the sequences. You will then be able to substitute images with the right words and know the flow of lines.
6. Acronym is a useful method that can be adopted for remembering items in an order, or conveying the essence of information. From each according to his ability, to each according to his need (or needs) is a popular slogan of Karl Marx’ economic principles. You can remember this as FEAA to EAToN.
7. Chunking is another technique employed for remembering numbers and ideas. For e.g., you can remember 15 nos. by splitting into three units of 5 each. You can also chunk items under a general concept – Fruits, Vegetables, Games, Birds, etc.
Apart from these, a much neglected but a very powerful technique for reinforcing learning and memory is Mindmapping. It is a technique that is primarily based on the information processing principles of the brain. It uses non-linear texts, parallel processing, and other mnemonics such as images, colors, etc., which is the way in which we recall and remember events.
The intrinsic worth of this technique is that it induces whole-brain thinking by triggering a chain of associated thoughts and ideas. Since you jot down your thoughts or information, your full and focused attention is engaged in it. This further strengthens your memory. You have to learn and use the technique to know its real value.
Related Articles
The Smartest Way to Learning and Remembering – Mindmapping
By: Avezah | 03/10/2007 | Coaching
Memory is an important aspect of any learning. We need to remember what we learn otherwise we can never utilize our learning. Memory can be greatly increased with Mindmapping as it is based on memory principles. Mindmapping employs many elements of assimilation and recalling techniques of the brain and thus is the easiest way to improving our mental capacity.
Elephantine Memory and Mindmapping
By: Avezah | 03/10/2007 | Motivational
Memory is the essence of learning. While there are many known techniques, Mindmapping is one of the easiest and efficient means for learning, memory and creativity. It is a great augmenter of memory. Since it is based on the information-technique of the brain, Mindmapping has been found to be extremely effective for memory and learning.
How About Using Mindmapping to Enhance Speed-reading?
By: Avezah | 03/10/2007 | Motivational
Speed-reading is maximizing our reading and comprehension skills. It is digesting information in the quickest possible reading time. Mindmapping helps a great deal in easy understanding and dissemination. It is based on non-linear technique of writing and thus kindles creativity and whole-brain thinking.
Are you Ambidextrous or Whole-brain Thinker? Mindmapping to your Rescue
By: Avezah | 03/10/2007 | Self Improvement
Ambidexterity is whole-brain thinking, where we use the inherent capacities of both the left and the right brain. It is maximizing our brainpower. Mindmapping aids in whole-brain thinking process. It is a powerful and simple tool for enhancing a whole range of our cognitive abilities.
If There is a Reliable Creative Tool it is Mindmapping
By: Avezah | 03/10/2007 | Self Help
Creativity is the essence of life and has been greatly instrumental for man’s stupendous evolvement. While all of us have inherent creativity, we fail to utilize it as we find comfort in conforming rather than look for divergent thinking. However, creativity can be kindled in various ways and Mindmapping is one of the simplest and efficient techniques for unraveling the process of creativity in us.
How Mindmapping Can Lead you to Right Decision Making
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Motivational
We are called upon to make decisions in every small and major component of our life. Mindmapping as a simple devise, can help a great deal in providing clarity of thought and analysis to make correct and informed decisions.
Learning to be Ambidextrous Through Mindmapping
By: Avezah | 03/10/2007 | Self Help
Our innate mental abilities can be optimized with whole brain thinking. Ambidextrousness is using the capabilities of the left and the right brain. Mindmapping is an easy answer to ambidextrous thinking. It aids such whole-brain thinking and serves as a fertile ground for high level of creativity.
How you Can Succeed in Life Without a High Iq
By: Martin Mak | 15/10/2007 | Self Improvement
Why a high IQ is not guarantee for success. You can still get ahead in life if you have a strong memory and exercise some creativity and good old hard work.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Botanic online resources for elementary school children
By: ROY | 21-11-2007
Looking for a comprehensive list of botanic online resources for elementary school children
Worst Thanksgiving Memory
By: Freezer | 20-11-2007
What's your worst Thanksgiving memory?Or if not Thanksgiving, worst memory of a family gathering?
What´s the most constructive way for an adult to ...
By: Grace Hernandez | 19-11-2007
What´s the most constructive way for an adult to teach a child the difference between right and wrong?
Do you remember your 8 year old self? who were you ...
By: Alix | 18-11-2007
do you remember your 8 year old self? who were you? what did you want to be when you grew up?
Good hair-cut place in Israel Center?
By: seftysteph | 18-11-2007
What's a good place to get my hair cut in the center of Israel? I live in Raanana but I'd go to Tel Aviv or something if someone highly recommended a place. I want someone who is creative who can give me a really cute cut, but I don't want to pay a fortune. Any ideas?
Help I'd like to get a grant
By: smashmouth | 14-11-2007
Everyone would like to get some grant money to go to school, in my case start a business or to pay bills. And you see that guy with the question mark on his suit talking about grants. And he say buy his book and you can get grants. when you don't tell you all of what you might have to go through to get the grants. My question is where are the best places to go to look into getting grants and maybe tell you how to write grant letter and things of that nature. It would sure be nice to stop beating my head on a wall trying to figure out this grant stuff.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Motivational Articles
Succeed With The Right Mental Attitude
By: Paul Hata | 06/09/2008
By a wrong mental attitude we have set in motion a train of events that ends in disaster. People who die in middle life from disease, almost without exception, are those who have been preparing for death. The acute tragic condition is simply the result of a chronic state of mind a culmination of a series of events.
Be Happy As You Want To Be
By: Paul Hata | 06/09/2008
To be happy is relatively easy, just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.
The Basics To Setting And Achieving Your Goals
By: Paul Hata | 06/09/2008
The basics of setting goals give you short-term and long-term motivation and focus. They help you set focus on the acquisition of required knowledge and help you to plan and organize your resources and your time so that you can get the best out of your life.
Your Online Business and Marketing Catalyst
By: Daniel Gonzalez | 06/09/2008
The idea of starting a business is one that floats around in many people's mind. It's not new to life with the internet. I knew long before there was an internet and this thing called online business, I had a destiny to have my own business. But do you know what it takes beyond a positive attitude to make your vision flower?
Winning Success Strategies: The Same Actions Will Always Get You The Same Results!
By: Ken Donaldson | 05/09/2008
The ego-driven smaller self tends to live in the predicting-the-past-and-forgetting-the-future mode.
Success Coaching 101: Inspire Your True Essence
By: Ken Donaldson | 05/09/2008
One of the essential qualities you need to heal from old, self-limiting beliefs is the permission to be unique and different. Give yourself permission to be the true you.
Carrot, Egg, or Coffee?
By: Peggy Champlin | 05/09/2008
This story is helpful when our lives seem too hard to handle. It can serve as a reminder of who we want to be in tough times.
Going Out of Your Mind to Find Your True Sanity
By: Ken Donaldson | 04/09/2008
You must go out of your current way of thinking and broaden the scope of the possible to find the answer that will work...You have to go out of your mind to find your true sanity.
More from Avezah
Presentation Can Never be so Easy as With Mind Maps
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Presentation
Presentations have become a necessary tool in the current business scene. While there are various devices and software available to make a powerful Presentation, these alone cannot ensure its success. It is here that Mindmaps can provide great value. Mindmaps allow you to plan the entire sequence of the Presentation at every step most vividly and effectively. Every aspect can be detailed completely with the help of Mindmapping, which makes it a very significant and indispensable tool.
Using Mindmaps for Making Riveting Presentation
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Presentation
Presentation can be made a very easy and fruitful exercise. Although there are many software and latest gadgets to improve Presentation, the actual delivery and the content of the Presentation are important aspects. Mindmapping is a very simple and effective technique that can be used for making detailed Presentation. Every step in the process can be most clearly worked out and implemented in the most simplest and easiest way with Mindmaps.
Presentation Made Easy With Mindmapping
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Presentation
Presentation has become an inevitable process in the business world. There are many devices available for making great Presentations. However, Mindmap is a different tool altogether. It allows you to make a complete planning of your Presentation and goes beyond that. Every element of your Presentation can be mapped out using Mindmaps and effectively employed to provide scintillating Presentation.
Making Powerful Presentation With Mindmapping
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Presentation
In the current business scene, Presentations have become the order of the day. With many devices available, making Presentations have become relatively easy. However, Mindmapping is a very useful tool for making effective Presentations. It allows for detailed planning, preparation and delivery. It makes the entire sequence of Presentation a very easy and reliable process.
Using Mindmaps for Making Scintillating Presentation
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Presentation
Presentations have become a vital aspect of business. While there are many devices available to make Presentations interesting, Mindmapping is a very simple tool that can be used for preparing a Presentation. The entire gamut of Presentation can be well laid out and worked accordingly. It is a powerful technique that makes planning and preparation extremely easy.
With Mind Maps Decision Making Becomes Easy
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Motivational
Decision-making is an important process and calls for weighing all elements before arriving at the right one. Mindmapping is a simple and highly interesting tool that can be deployed for making thorough and well thought-out decisions. It provides a wide canvas of all elements of a decision so you can make deep analysis before taking a decision.
Get Greater Clarity of Thought and Decisions With Mindmapping
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Motivational
Decision-making is an integral part of our life. We are making decisions at different levels all the time. Any decision calls for deep analysis, critical evaluation, sound reasoning and judgment. Mindmapping can serve as a useful and effective tool to analyze our decision at every step to help arrive at a well-thought out and farsighted judgment. It offers a wide picture and enables one to reach a well-informed decision.
How Mindmapping Can Lead you to Right Decision Making
By: Avezah | 04/10/2007 | Motivational
We are called upon to make decisions in every small and major component of our life. Mindmapping as a simple devise, can help a great deal in providing clarity of thought and analysis to make correct and informed decisions.
Self Improvement 
