Introduction

1. Introduction In this tutorial, you will learn that there are two types of memorization and you will be given some suggestions on how to memorize better in both types.

2. Which type you need Some subject content requires you to memorize a lot of details but some requires you only to memorize the general concepts but to understand how the concepts are interrelated instead. You have to think beforehand what is actually needed because it represents very different learning approaches and strategies.

3. Less memorizing but more understanding • In most learning situations, you are not required to remember the identical words by which something is expressed. You need to remember ideas and concepts and how they are related with each other. • For this general type of memory tasks, the following advice should help. • Most importantly, memory can be improved by constant revision of the study material. • A true understanding of the material, so that you see how the newly acquired knowledge is related to the existing knowledge in your mind also makes the learning long-term. • Discussing the subject matter with friends is another way to help memory.

4. Less memorizing but more understanding • Some like the idea of teaching things newly acquired to their friends to consolidate learning. • Use flow charts, interesting diagrams, and tables that sketch the relationships of the concepts and ideas you have learned. By working on the information and by looking at them in a visualized format help consolidate learning. • Keeping a good and fit body state also helps memory. That means you should pay attention to your diet, sleep well and do appropriate amount of exercise. • Lastly, studying in your most productive hours and in stress-free atmosphere also helps memory.

5. Memorizing details In the not so common cases where you are required to remember the exact wordings of, for example, a term definition or a quote, you should highlight or write on separate pieces of paper the things that require your verbatim memorization and revise them regularly.

6. Mnemonic devices In cases where you are required to remember formulae, or lists of numbers, names, and words that seem to be unrelated with each others, some small memorization techniques, or called mnemonic devices, can help. Another mnemonic device is to pick the first letter of each term to form acronyms.

7. Mnemonic devices Example: How would you form an acronym out of ““Multiply and Divide before you Add and Subtract”? Use MDAS to stand for “Multiply and Divide before you Add and Subtract”; and if that is not easy enough for you, use MDAS to rewrite a meaningful sentence like “My Dear Aunt Sally” to help memory. You will also find remember easier if you can visualize some relationship among the items. It is because we have a stronger memory for images, stories, and meaningful relationships than for a group of unrelated things.

8. Mnemonic devices Example: Think of a way to remember the parts of the ear in the sequence “ear drum”, “hammer”, “anvil, “stirrup”, “oval window”, “cochlea”, and “auditory nerve”. Use the visualizing method. You can picture yourself in a story about same strange things you met one day: You stepped on a drum (ear drum) the first thing in the morning when you left home and then you were nearly hit by a falling hammer (hammer). Then, you saw an ant (anvil) caught on a drop of syrup (stirrup) and you also saw that behind an oval window (oval window) there sat a cock (cochlea). You found a cable on the floor and picked it up. You heard sounds coming out from it (auditory nerve).

9. Summary In this tutorial, you have learnt that not everything in a course require memorization. Very often, understanding is needed. You have also learnt some ways to enhance memory of board concepts and understanding, and some ways to help memorizing the details.