Improving Memory and Reading

How does the memory work? Three Stages Sensory Register Short Term Memory (STM) Long Term Memory (LTM)

Sensory Register Lasts less than a second Records sensory experience Allows the brain to process info Helps us to focus on relevant info

The Sensory Register is like a quickly fading photo of your sensory experience

Short Term Memory Lasts about a half a minute Temporary and limited Records what we see, hear, do, taste, touch Purpose is to ponder significance and decide if it is important enough to remember

Magical Number 7 It is easier to remember material grouped in chunks of seven (+ or –2)

Common 7’s Telephone Number License Plate Days of the Week Colors of the Rainbow Deadly Sins 7 Dwarfs (Snow White) Can You Name Some Others?

Long Term Memory Large capacity Permanent storage Use it to store important information for future use Use it to store information for college success

How are long term memories formed? Takes purposeful action Repetition Meaningful association It must have survival value Personal reasons To pass a test

These Help Motivation Interest or Joy in learning

Is It True that We Never Forget? We remember what is stored in Long Term Memory (LTM) This is the goal of college study

How Long Do We Remember? Sensory Register less than one second Short Term less than one minute Long Term permanent

Summary

To Store Information in Long Term Memory Requires rehearsal Apply memory techniques

Rate of Forgetting (or losing access) AFTER 20 MINUTES 47% AFTER 1 DAY 62% AFTER 2 DAYS 69% AFTER 15 DAYS 75% AFTER 31 DAYS 78% Hermann Ebbinghaus

When is the best time to review?

Review within 20 minutes

Ready for a memory test?

How did you remember?

Memory Techniques

Meaningful Organization

Memory is like a library

If you miss-file a book, You cannot find it. It is still there and you may stumble across it one day.

File your books correctly. Organize those thoughts!

Organize it. Learn from the general to the specific Make it meaningful

Remember the Magical Number 7? Organize in Groups of 7 or Less

Visualization Make a mental picture of what you want to remember Commercials make good use of this technique

Recitation One of the most powerful techniques Memories exist in the form of a chemical neural trace Some researchers think it takes 5 seconds to establish this trace Repeat it 5 times or keep it in your mind for 5 seconds

READY FOR THE TEST AGAIN? YOU’LL DO BETTER THIS TIME

More Memory Techniques

Develop an Interest We tend to remember what interests us

Can You Remember? Music Sports Hobbies Styles

Find Something Interesting in Your College Studies

See the Big Picture Understand the main points first and the details second

Imagine trying to see a painting one inch at a time Imagine trying to see a painting one inch at a time! It is difficult to appreciate or understand.

“The essence of genius is knowing what to overlook.” William James

Intend to Remember Tell yourself that you are going to remember.

Intend to remember where you put your keys!

Distribute the Practice Learn small amounts at a time Review frequently

EXAMPLE: SAFMEDS SAY ALL FAST ONE MINUTE EACH DAY SHUFFLE

Create a Basic Background We remember by making connections to what we already know At first college is difficult because you are establishing the basic background

Relax While Studying

You can’t remember if you are embarrassed

Frustrated

Tired

Memory Tricks

Acrostics Creative rhymes, songs or poems Musical Notes: Every Good Boy Does Fine

Acronyms Create New Words as Memory Aids NASA LASER SCUBA

Exercise: Practice with Mnemonics

Peg Systems One Bun Six Sticks Two Shoe Seven Heaven Three Tree Eight Gate Four Door Nine Wine Five Hive Ten Hen

Picture the Peg Bun

Connect what you want to remember. Use a picture. Bun Milk

Exercise: Remember a Grocery List

Peg Systems One Bun Six Sticks Two Shoe Seven Heaven Three Tree Eight Gate Four Door Nine Wine Five Hive Ten Hen

Loci Systems Use places to remember A House A Hallway

Can you strengthen your mind?

Exercises to Strengthen the Mind Puzzles Music Fix Something Art Dance Aerobic Exercise Interesting People

Keeping Your Mind Healthy Exercise Rest Balanced, low-fat diet Eat proteins and carbohydrates Drink caffeine in moderation Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol Use safety gear

Part II: Read to Remember

Warm Up Your Brain Can You Remember the Grocery List?

Peg Systems One Bun Six Sticks Two Shoe Seven Heaven Three Tree Eight Gate Four Door Nine Wine Five Hive Ten Hen

Sum: Apply these super learning techniques Meaningful Organization Visualization Recitation Develop an Interest See the Big Picture First Intend to Remember Distribute the Practice Create a Basic Background Relax

Myths About Reading If I read, I should remember what I read.

Generally people cannot remember 50% of of the material they have just read!

Myths About Reading If I read, I should remember what I read. I do not need to read if I go to class. Practice makes perfect.

SQ4R A shortcut to college reading

Read once Instead of Re-reading. Recite for memory improvement

Step 1 Survey Question FAST

Why? Beginning of speed reading Improves comprehension

How? Quickly look over the chapter Turn the subtitles into questions

Survey See the big picture Ease into studying Warm up Create a basic background Get started

?? Question Read to find answers Improves reading comprehension Forces you to concentrate ??

Keeps you awake

Become an Active Reader

Exercise: Surveying and Questioning a Chapter

Step 2 Read Recite SLOW FAST

This step is most important for Memory

How? Read to identify the topic sentence or main idea

Underline or highlight the idea if it is important.

When reading is tough Read it again Look up new words Read it aloud Ask the instructor Stand up and read Use tutoring Pretend you understand Take a break and come back later

Use 3X5 cards to learn new words Read with a Dictionary Use 3X5 cards to learn new words

FAST Recite Most powerful memory technique Converts information from short term to long term memory Keeps you alert FAST

Step 3 Review Reflect FAST

Why? Reinforces memory

Within 20 Minutes! When? Most of the forgetting occurs in the first 20 minutes.

How to Review After each main section, review the main points At the end of the chapter, quickly review the main points one more time Do your review quickly

Reflection is the creative step

Reflection How can I use this? What is important? How does it relate? How can I use it in my career? Is it true?

A step beyond memorization is Wisdom REFLECT

Sum:SQ4R

Online Reading Strategies What is your purpose for reading? For college material: Scan first. Look for key points. Make note of the important points. Review.

What to do if the reading goes in one ear and out the other.

What to do if the reading goes in one ear and out the other? Tell yourself you can do it! Try visualization. Look for personal meaning. Scan for important points. Talk to the text as you read it.

4 Gears of Reading Skimming (2000-3000 WPM) Rapid Reading (300-800 WPM) Slow Reading (150-300 WPM) Studying (200 WPM)

Guidelines for Marking a Text

A Mind Map for Marking a Text “THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK” BE SELECTIVE 20%

Marking WHY? MEMORY SAVE TIME “THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK” BE SELECTIVE 20 %

Marking WHY? MEMORY “THE ESSENCE OF SAVE TIME GENIUS IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK” BE SELECTIVE 20 % GUIDELINES READ FIRST ORGANIZE NOTES IN MARGIN BRIEF FAST AND NEAT

Marking WHY? MEMORY SAVE TIME “THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK” BE SELECTIVE SYMBOLS 20 % GUIDELINES 1 2 3 READ FIRST * * * ORGANIZE NOTES IN MARGIN BRIEF FAST AND NEAT

Marking WHY? MEMORY SAVE TIME “THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK” BE SELECTIVE SYMBOLS 20 % GUIDELINES 1 2 3 READ FIRST * * * ORGANIZE NOTES IN MARGIN BRIEF FAST AND NEAT

Marking DOUBLE SYSTEM WHY? 1. UNDERLINE IN PENCIL 2. HIGHLIGHT AS PART OF REVIEW MEMORY SAVE TIME “THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWING WHAT TO OVERLOOK” BE SELECTIVE SYMBOLS 20 % GUIDELINES 1 2 3 READ FIRST * * * ORGANIZE NOTES IN MARGIN BRIEF FAST AND NEAT

More Ideas on Text Marking Point out definitions by writing DEF in the margin. Circle the word being defined. Point out examples by writing EX in the margin Write SUM in the margin to point out useful summaries to reread.

Group Activity: Make a Mind Map Use How Does the Memory Work?

An Example of a Mind Map

Understanding the main ideas= Success on tests

The Listing Pattern Presents a List of Items Your task as a reader is to identify all items listed Watch for clues such as numbers or letters First Second Third 1, 2, 3 A B C D

Sequence Pattern Presents a list of items in a specific order. The order is important. As a reader, identify and mark all items in the series and note their order. Again clues are numbers or letters. Notice words such as then, next, finally

Definition Pattern Presents an explanation of a term As the reader, understand all parts of the definition Watch for words such as: is, is defined, this term means, is known as, refers to

Comparison/Contrast Pattern Presents similarities or differences As a reader, recognize these similarities or differences For comparisons, notice these words: similarly, likewise, also For differences, notice these words: however, in contrast, on the other hand, nevertheless

Cause/Effect Pattern Presents the reasons things happen (causes) and their results (effects) As a reader understand the cause and effect For cause notice these words: causes, produces, leads to, results in For effect notice these words: results from, was caused by, due to, consequently, therefore

Keys to Success: Positive Thinking You can improve your reading and your life with positive thinking!

If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you like to win but think you can’t, It’s almost certain that you won’t. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger woman or man, But sooner or later, those who win Are those who think they can.

Exercises: Check Your Textbook Reading skills Scenarios