7 memorization skills that will make you smarter

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Learnability is one of the most important human skills associated with memory and the process of memorization. Peter Brown, Henry Rödiger and Mark McDaniel talk about how to remember information correctly in their book “Remember Everything”.

1. Recollection: we get it out of memory

Flashcards work well. They help to extract information from memory related to what is depicted on the card.

This method is so effective because recall strengthens the neural pathways associated with a particular concept. Recalling is also at the heart of testing. That is why exams at school should be not only a way of assessing students' knowledge, but also a learning tool.

2. Reflection: combining new ideas with old knowledge

“The better you can explain the connection between new data and what you already know, the better you will assimilate new information, the easier it will be for you to remember it later,” the authors write.

For example, if you are trying to understand heat transfer in physics class, try to connect this concept with life experience. For example, you might remember how your hands get warm from a cup of hot coffee.

3. Interleaving: alternating different types of tasks

It will be easier for you to study a subject if you switch from one topic to another.

“The interleaving of different types of tasks and knowledge develops the ability to distinguish them and highlight what is common between them. This will help you later in the exam or in real life, when you have to identify the nature of the problem in order to choose the right solution for it,”the authors of the book explain.

4. Generation: we find the answer without waiting for prompts

You are much more likely to remember the answer if you come to it yourself than if you learn it from someone else.

When it comes to studying, try to find the answers to your questions yourself before the lesson begins. If about work, try to come up with your own solutions to the problem before consulting with your manager.

5. Reflection: evaluating what happened

Take a few minutes to assess how the meeting went or how the project is progressing. You can ask yourself a few questions, for example: "Did everything go according to plan?", "What can be improved?"

Researchers at Harvard Business School found that as little as 15 minutes at the end of the work day writing down observations and observations increased productivity by 23%.

6. Mnemonic Tricks: Using Tricks to Remember

We use these techniques when we remember something with the help of abbreviations, rhymes or pictures. By themselves, mnemonics are not a learning tool. They help create cognitive maps and diagrams that make it easier to remember what you have learned.

7. Calibration: find out our weak points

"Calibration is the use of an objective tool in order to get rid of illusions and bring your own judgment in line with reality," the authors of the book write.

This is an important point, because we all fall prey to cognitive illusions. We are sure that we understand something, but in fact we do not understand or do not fully understand. To identify your weaknesses, take a test or ask colleagues to comment on your work.