Chapter 8 The Key to the Secret of Memory Memory

Retrieval means finding information stored in memory and making it conscious so it can be used.

The key to successful recall is to learn the material the right way.

Prepare: Remember the Right Information Look at the big picture Don’t get lost in the details

Relate New Material to What You Already Know Personalize information Organize information by place Organize

Memory Exercise Prepare yourself now for an exercise. Watch carefully and try to remember each word that you see appear on the screen.

Organize Your Memory Try to Remember…. Girl Heart Robin Purple Finger Flute Blue Piano Organ Man Hawk Green Lung Eagle Child

Now take a piece of paper and write down as many words as you can remember

Turn over your list and watch the following words closely Green Blue Purple Man Girl Child Piano Flute Organ Heart Lung Finger Eagle Hawk Robin

Write down as many words as you can remember

Both lists are identical Did you remember more the second time? Why? – The answer is because you organized the words into groups that had something in common. The way you group your information affects your ability to remember it.

Work: Using Proven Strategies to Memorize New Material Rehearsal Mnemonics (neh MON ix) – Acronyms Phrases formed by first letter P.O.W.E.R. is an acronym – Acrostics Sentence in which first letters are reminders Rhymes and jingles – Thirty days hath September, April, June and November

Recalling Sequences and Lists Method of loci (low-sigh)-Ancient Greek orators used this method – Latin for “places” – Information is divided into sequences – Information can be partitioned like rooms of a house Peg Method: a series of keywords tied to numbers to help you recall numeric information – Example: “one-two, buckle my shoe” / “three-four, shut the door”

Involve multiple senses to help you memorize – Write it down – Think out loud – Draw or diagram – Visualize – Think positively Recalling Sequences and Lists

Overlearning consists of studying and rehearsing material past the point of initial mastery: like learning the multiplication tables

Evaluate Use Review questions and tests to test your recall Take a practice test Study with a friend

Rethink: Consolidate Memories The physical links between brain cells that represent memory in the brain need TIME to become fixed and stable Cramming is not a good idea-memory will not last

Memory Exercise Pay attention to the next several slides Try to remember as many of them as possible

Write down as many pictures as you can remember

Chunking-Grouping Pictures Did you remember to organize the pictures in groups? What about these groups? – Transportation – Seasons of the Year – Animals – Famous Buildings

How Did you Do? Check your list as we review the pictures

Transportation Bus Train Subway Horse and Carriage

Seasons of the Year FallWinter Spring Summer

Animals Monkey Crocodile Dolphin Leopard

Famous Buildings Statue of Liberty Twin Towers Lincoln Memorial White House

Evaluate Test Your Recall of New Information Review Questions Test Yourself

Rethink Memory Consolidation – Physical links between brain cells that represent memory in the brain need time to become fixed and stable – Explains reason why information is not suddenly and permanently established in memory the first time – Process may take days or even years

PREPARE ORGANIZE WORK EVALUATE RETHINK Determine what you need to remember Relate new material to what you already know Use proven strategies to memorize new material Test your recall of new information Consolidate memories through repeated review P.O.W.E.R. Plan

Career Connections Recalling names of those with whom you work, recalling names of professional colleagues from other companies, and recalling names of clients is very important.

Resources Improving Your Memory (Johns Hopkins 2005) The Memory Doctor by Douglas Mason and Spencer Smith (New Harbinger Publications, 2005)