Memory+tricks+&+tips

So now you have determined your preferred way to learn, how do you commit your learning to memory? ACTIVITY In small groups determine what the following “ Eight laws of memory” mean? The law of comprehension: The law of interest: The law of previous knowledge: The law of readiness for memorisation: (short term/ long term) The law of associations: (formed by Aristotle in 4th century BC The law of sequences:  The law of strong impressions: (the greater the number of information channels the better the chance of retention)  The law of inhibition: (the first task must settle)  **Tips**: make predictions before a task, this will hold your interest during the task. Eg before reading an article: try to guess from the title, chapter headings, sub headings, diagrams, first paragraphs, topic sentences what the text will be about and questions you have – answers to find. If it is a text presenting an opinion or argument try to predict the conclusion. Before reading a text, recall what information (pre excisiting knowledge you have)  Never write something down for memory without an attempt to grasp and understand them first.  ACTIVITY  Your tips for remember a speech / poem/ song? A persons name?  What do you remember for school/ what have you committed to memory? How & why did you learn it? What are your tips? READING/DISCUSSION: What blocks your memory? Discuss: mental state, depression/ anxiety Food for memory: magnesium (green leafy vegetables, meat, eggs, whole grain, wheat germ, black strap molasses – warning this is not sweet!) Calcium: Dairy (low fat is ok)turnip, collards, kale, broccoli, … Avoid sugar! DID YOU KNOW? The ancient Greeks valued memory so much that they had a goddess of memory! Mnemosyne (where we get the word mnemonics= memory techniques) the Greeks discovered that two underlying principles ensured perfect memory. Imagination & association. That si use every aspect of your brain, left & right hemispheres. The more of the following tools you use the greater the memory landscape to draw on. Within imagination: expansion- a big mental image 1. Contraction- imagine your picture reduced & tiny 2. Absurd- the more ridiculous the more remembered Mnemonic names & faces memory principles: Imagination & association Have a clear mental image of name Hear again the sound of the name Examine the face & look for characteristics/ features Reconstruct the face in your imagination as a cartoonist to exaggerate features in full colour! Make an association with name &/ or features eg Sue Baker checks like soft dough To remember a number of objects try imagining each one in a room in your house then mentally walk through your house recalling each object in each room. How to remember speeches & jokes:
 * 1) Colour: vivid
 * 2) Imagination: the powerhouse of your memory
 * 1) Rhythm: & variation of Rhythm
 * 2) Movement: try to make your mental images move around
 * 3) The 5 senses: the more senses you involve the better. Imagine the smell, sound, touch etc
 * 4) Sequencing & ordering
 * 5) Numbering
 * 6) Dimension: put your image in 3D
 * Tricks to remember faces & names: **
 * 1) Mental set: I’m going to remember…
 * 2) Observe: look them in the eye & notice their features
 * 3) Listen: to their name, voice, expressions
 * 4) Ask them to repeat & verify pronunciation & spelling
 * 5) Ask (politely) the origins of their name
 * 6) Exchange cards
 * 7) Repetition in conversation & internally & on parting
 * 8) Keep a diary of people: remembering their details is a great complement
 * 9) Review: new names & people you have met recently
 * 10) Don’t race through an introduction, no matter how big the crowd (be the queen!)