Memory Tips for Students

Keep yourself motivated Vary the material you revise: from the difficult to the more familiar. This makes it more interesting and small chuncks are easier to remember. Use cards to make notes of key points. Read your essays and other assignments to get yourself in the right frame of mind. Reflect on your feedback, both the positive points and those you need to improve - repeat the former, try to change the latter! Study alone for some of the time, but also in a group occasionally, if this suits you. Discussing ideas often helps clarify them, and the process will also help you see how much you really do know! Take regular breaks but be strict about returning to your revision: Even when you are on a break your mind will keep working - often sorting out complex ideas! Give yourself treats to keep you going: An evening at the cinema or reading a novel, going for a long walk, cooking your favourite food. Attend revision classes. Find out if your tutors have organised revision sess...

1. Minimise distractions "The easiest and most obvious way we can help to focus our attention is by reducing the amount of distractions in our environment.” Distractions include mobile phones, social media and television.  Multitasking should also be avoided , where possible. Although some people are convinced they can do two or more mental tasks equally effectively at the same time, research shows this isn’t the case. Multitasking activates inhibitory networks in the brain, which suggests the brain is rapidly switching between tasks rather than doing them simultaneously. Other research has found that chronic multitasking impairs both long-term and working (short-term) memory. 2. Use active testing or recall Doing quizzes or forcing yourself to actively recall information is linked to deeper memory formation than when you passively review notes. US research involving a foreign language learning task, for example, found that university students were ...

1. Give directions in multiple formats Students benefit from being given directions in both visual and verbal formats. In addition, their understanding and memorizing of instructions could be checked by encouraging them to repeat the directions given and explain the meaning of these directions. Examples of what needs to be done are also often helpful for enhancing memory of directions. 2. Teach students to over-learn material Students should be taught the necessity of "over-learning" new information. Often they practice only until they are able to perform one error-free repetition of the material. However, several error-free repetitions are needed to solidify the information. 3. Teach students to use visual images and other memory strategies Another memory strategy that makes use of a cue is one called word substitution. The substitute word system can be used for information that is hard to visualize, for example, for the word occipital or parietal. These ...

Review Notes the Same Day Studies prove that in order for us to store information “long term” it must be reviewed within 24 hrs. or less. By getting in the habit of same day review, we increase the chances of remembering by over 70 percent!   Use Daylight This method is particularly effective for weekend study and review . Study the most difficult subjects during daylight hours. For many students the early morning hours can be especially productive and will stimulate the memory process.   Distribute Learning Research suggest marathon study sessions (3 hrs. or more) are not as effective as light study sessions (1-2 hrs.) which are distributed at different times during the week. Take frequent breaks. Some students can study 50 minutes or more, others need to stop after 30 minutes. Try to distribute your length of study in the same rhythm as your classes (50/10/50). Give yourself rewards, you’ve earned it!   Keep a Positive Attitude Studies prove that if...

Organize List facts in alphabetical or chronological order. Get a general idea of the textbook material, note the simple to complex and general to specific. Logical facts are easier to remember.   Make It Meaningful Look for connections in what you are studying . For example, packing a parachute by itself can be boring, however, the excitement of jumping out of a plane gives a whole new meaning to this process. Focusing on the “Big Picture” helps provide meaning to the learning process and stimulates us to remember.   Create Associations Associate something new with something you already know. This creates a building process in your memory bank. If you already know a Bill Smith think of the Bill you know and associate him with the new Bill Smith.   Learn It Actively People remember 90 percent of what they do, 75 percent of what they see and 20 percent of what they hear. This saying is very accurate, as action is a proven memory enhancer. Move your hands, pace back a...

1.ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS Understanding a subject is the first step to being able to remember the material. Encouraging your child to ask questions helps ensure he or she is developing a deeper comprehension of the topic. This also helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 2.CREATE RHYMES AND SONGS Help your child make a rhyme, poem, or song from the information he or she is learning. Our brains are wired to remember music and patterns, so using music or rhymes can help your child improve his or her memory and recall. 3.MAKE LEARNING EXCITING Encourage your child’s enthusiasm of learning by taking a trip to the library to check out books or videos on different subjects. You can also visit a museum or art gallery. If your child is interested in the material he or she is learning, it will be easier to remember it in the future. 4.ENCOURAGE ACTIVE LEARNING Make learning more engaging for your child by having discussions about different topics, asking y...

Memory can be improved by using strategies that enhance storage and retrieval of information. Learn from the  general to the specific . Start by reading the chapter heading, section headings, introduction and summary. You may also want to skim charts and diagrams and other bolded material. Then go back and read for detail. Review often , trying to vary the way that you review so that you create more connections to your long-term memory. At a minimum, do daily review and weekly review. Make sure you  understand  the material. Comprehension vastly improves memory. Visualize  what you are reading or studying . Pictures, shapes and colors are remembered longer than words. Making images colorful, absurd and humorous can help with memory retention. Make the  material meaningful . Think about how it is relevant to your life or to your future career. Think of examples. Consider how new material fits with what you already know. Use  mnemonics...

1. Exercise regularly,  especially  before an exam This may sound strange since there aren’t many people who can study and exercise at the same time, but exercise, even just taking a brisk walk, can greatly improve your memory . Here’s how:  Exercise increases  the flow of oxygen within your bloodstream, which in turn increases the amount of oxygen reaching your brain. With that oxygen comes valuable nutrients that keep your brain functioning at a high level. Hitting a weekly exercise class with your friends is a great way to incorporate exercise into your routine. If you’re not the type to head to the  campus gym , try walking to class rather than hopping on the bus; the walk will get your blood flowing and also release endorphins, which will boost your mood making your class time more enjoyable! 2. Create visual aids and give your brain another way to “see” what you’re studying By representing the information that you are studying in a visu...

As exam time approaches students with learning disabilities often find themselves overwhelmed with the amount of information they need to remember. Teachers wisely tell their students to review in each subject as they go along through the semester. Research tells us that if we review information within 24 hours of learning it, we are much more likely to remember it in the long run. Well thought out homework is designed with this kind of review in mind. Each student should choose strategies for memorization that fit their own learning styles. Sort information Help your retrieval system by putting new information into categories. You can group by dates, people, formulas, etc. It may help to make a chart as you study. Frequent review Studying new information the same day you heard or read it will improve memory significantly. A small review each day is essential if you have memory problems. Use humor or exaggeration Information stays in memory longer if it is related ...

No need to stress. Here are some great tips for making things stick in your brain. 1. Establish Routine If you establish specific e-mail and desktop folders for critical documents, you'll know right where to go first. 2. Go Against Habit If you really want to remember something critical, intentionally break the routine surrounding it. Suppose you keep forgetting to back up your computer at night. And let's say you always keep your keys in your right-hand pocket. Put them in your left pocket in the morning so when you are ready to leave you have to break your pattern.  The odd feeling acts like a string around your finger, making you aware that something needs to be done. 3. Eat More Brain Food Lots of foods improve your memory because they are filled with special antioxidants and vitamins. Try adding more green tea, blueberries, salmon, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, dark chocolate and turmeric to your daily intake. Experts say a glass of red wi...