memory techniques

be aware of attitudes

look for connections that relate to your own interest. if you do not like math, try to think positive ...

be selective

make notes about what is most important. pay attention to anything printed in bold type.

Restate it

one way to test your understanding and aid your memory at the same time is to put ideas into your own words.

organize it

organize information is easier to find

chuck it

small pieces

make friends with your amygdala

this area of your brain ligths up with extra neural activity each time you feel a strong emotion.

intend to remember

to instantly enhance your memory, form the simple intention to learn it now rather than later.

use it

to remember an idea, go beyond thinking about it. make it personal. do something about it.

recall it often

to remember something, acess it a lot. find some way to make contact with the material regularly.

elaborate with questions

elaboration means consciously encoding new information. does this reminder me of something or someone I already know?

use your time of peak energy

study your most difficult subjects during the times when your energy peaks. day or nigth.

review as soon as possible

a short review within minutes of a class or study session can move material from short term memory into long term memory.

distribute learning

as an alternative to marathon study sessions, experiment with shorter, space-out sessions. you migth find that you can get far more done in three two-hour sessions than in one six-hour session.

create pictures

associations within and among abstract concepts can be "seen" and recalled more easily when they are visualized.

make flash cards

it is good idea because you can leave to anywhere.

overlearn

learn more that you need to know about a subject simply to pass a test.

teach it.

teaching demands mastery. when you explain the function of the pancreas to a felloa student, you discover quickly whether you really understand it yourself.

remember something else

when you are stuck and cannot remember something that you are sure you know, remember something else that is related to it.

create associations

when you introduce new data, you can remember it more effetively if you associate it with similar or related data

recite and repeat

when you repeat something out loud, you anchor the concept in two, different senses. physical and hearing

relax

when you're relaxed, you absorb new information quickly and recall it with greater ease and accuracy.

write it down

wrintig a note to yourself helps you remember an idea, even if you never look at the note again.

relate the material to a personal goal

you are more likely to remember course material when you relate it to a goal that you feel strongly about.

sit at full attention, stand up, and move

you can use simple, direct methods to infuse your learning with action. when you sit at your desk, sit up straight, for example.

start by understanding the nature of short-term memory

a short review within minutes or hours of study session can move material from short-term memory into long-term memory. that quick minireview can save you hours of study time when exams roll around. short term memory can fate after few minutes and it rarely lasts more than several hours