Think about how easy it is to remember a catchy song lyric, and compare it to how difficult it can be to remember sentences or letter sequences. There’s a reason the ABC song was developed to teach children the alphabet - because it is musical, it is easier to learn.
Another type of mnemonic is the rhyming technique, and this is successful because it is similar to musical mnemonic. The rhyming at the end of each line of a poem or rhyme has a song-like quality to it that makes it easier to learn.
The rhyming peg system is a way of using rhymes of numbers to memorize lists of things.
For each number, memorize a picture of a word that rhymes with that number, and this creates a peg for memories to be recalled. An example is - one=fun, two=zoo, etc.
Take a Brain Break
There really is such a thing as information overload, so it’s vital to give your cerebrum a break regularly. This doesn’t mean you cease to function; it is merely methods to stop your brain from becoming stressed and confused while learning. For new skills to be learned, the mind has to send the sensory receptors signals to retain the information, but when the head is overloaded, these processes are
affected.
Ever ‘zoned out’ while listening to a lecture that seems to go on and on? This is the shut down our mind does when it's overloaded, and you are no longer paying attention to what is being said.
The easiest way to prevent brain overload is to take a short cerebrum break while learning something new. For just a few minutes, focus on something else to give your head a break, which will not only prevent the overload but will also help you focus a lot more effectively.
Hydration Affects the Brain
We are regularly told how important it is to consume water every day to keep our bodies healthy and functioning, and the same can be said about the encephalon. When you become dehydrated, your mental function deteriorates, leading to a foggy head, and preventing you from learning, concentrating, and retaining information. So, make sure you drink plenty of water every day and especially while you are studying.
Multiple Ways to Learn
There are numerous ways to learn new information and skills, and the more of these techniques you employ, the more areas of the brain are stimulated to retain the information. This enables you to actually learn the information and not just memorize it. When you have only memorized it, you haven’t learned it, so understanding the difference is essential.
Ways of learning include using different types of media, such as audio
files, reading texts, looking over notes, listening to a podcast, or watching a video. The more types of media you use, the quicker you will learn.
Connect the Old with the New
If you can relate the new information to something you know already, the quicker that new information will be learned. Your memory has a vital role in our ability to complete complicated cognitive tasks, such as being able to apply your knowledge to problems you haven’t faced before. By connecting the new information with the old, you will discover there are more layers of meaning in the new data you weren’t aware of before. When you have a much better understanding of the information, you will be able to recall it when needed more readily.
You could learn using different methods to stimulate different parts of the cerebrum, and when more of the encephalon is activated, the understanding and retention of the information increases. Some methods include:
Reading a textbook.
Reading notes from class.
Watch an informative video.
Search for information online.
Draw a mind map.
Teach what you have learned to someone else.
Instead of studying just one subject a day, your study will be more effective if you learn about multiple subjects each day. It is better to study a little of each than to try and focus on one or two in-depth. By
only looking at one subject at a time, it is easier to create confusion about the information that is similar.
Reviewing Information
To shift information to your long-term memory from your short-term memory, you need to review the information periodically. The intervals between reviews can vary based on the length of time you want to retain the information. But, a commonly used method is as follows:
First review - a day after learning the information.
Second review - 3 days after the 1st review.
Third review - 7 days after the 2nd review.
Fourth review - 21 days after the 3rd review.
Fifth review - 30 days after the 4th review.
Sixth review - 45 days after the 5th review.
Seventh review - 60 days after the 6th review.
It will be hugely beneficial to use one of those big wall calendars or planners to plot out your review dates so you can keep on top of it.
Choosing a Seat
Where you sit, particularly in a classroom or lecture hall, can have a significant impact on how much you learn. Those that sit at the front of the room generally achieve higher test results compared to those sitting in the middle or back sections of the room. A sample study showed that those who sat in the front had an 80% average, those in the middle a 71.6%, and those at the back 68.1%.
A common belief says, “those that sit at the front of the class are keener to learn and perhaps more intellectual, and those at the back of the class are the ones who aren’t that interested in learning.” But, the sample study moved students around the classroom, so the results were based purely on where they sat instead of their motivational levels.
Stop Multitasking!
