Lesson 9. Mnemonics

In prior lessons we learned some of the key principles of memorization:

·       Lesson 1: encoding, consolidation, retrieval, reconsolidation

·       Lesson 2: getting motivated

·       Lesson 3: paying attention

·       Lesson 8: making associations

in Lesson 12 we will learn how to implement these principles with Deliberate Practice. Here in this lesson, the objective is to teach you some mnemonic tricks that add to the effectiveness of using memory principles (Figure 1).

 Figure 1. Mnemonics assist all the stages of the memorization process.

The most basic feature of effective mnemonics is the association of what you are learning (the new) with what you already know (the old). Unfortunately, this association process does not always occur automatically. Mnemonics provide an explicit way to expedite the use of specific tactics designed to promote the creation of these associations.

“Memory athletes” are people who compete in memorization contests. For example, they compete to see how fast they can memorize the sequence of cards in as many as four decks). They compete to see who can memorize the longest string of random integers. Such feats are accomplished by people whose basic memorization ability is no better than yours or mine. They achieve such astonishing feats as memorizing four decks of cards in less than five minutes or memorizing strings of 80 or more digits. Nobody can do such things without mnemonics.

While you and I probably have no interest in such things as memorizing long strings of digits, we would like to be more effective at memorizing practical things we need to know. Mnemonics can empower us just as they do they memory athletes.

I identify seven known mnemonic approaches.

1.    Common-Sense Thinking

The word, “mnemonics” is defined as systems for improving and assisting the memory. The most powerful of all seven mnemonic approaches is just plain thinking about the material being memorized (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Thinking  hard in different ways about

 what you want to memorize is a very powerful memorization aid.

Every new bit of information has meaning. Thinking about that meaning improves your understanding and may give you new ideas. What is not so evident is that the process of thinking is actually promoting memorization in an automated way. Thinking embodies all the key principles of memorization. Thinking inevitably creates associations, strengthens encoding, and provides time for consolidation. As you think, you are paying special attention to memory targets, increasing your motivation as you realize practical applications, retrieving the information in working memory, and re-consolidating it with the new ideas as they emerge from thought. If you add one of more of the other mnemonic approaches during thinking, you are engaging the principle of deliberate practice.

2.    Acronym

Use the first letter of each word to create one set of letters, forming an  acronym. Ex:  U.S.A. for United States of America.

3.  Acrostic

Use the first letter of each word of a concept or item you are trying to remember to create a string of words. Ex:  All Cows Eat Grass (the white keys on a piano)

4.          Categorization

Group similar items together. Remembering any item in a category often will help you recall the others in that same category. Example: for a grocery shopping list, group vegetables (celery, potatoes, carrots), dairy (milk, cheese, ice cream) and so on.

5.          Subject-Object-Verb (SOV)

Imagine a picture of someone or something doing something to a target or object. Example: state where President Clinton grew up (picture political opponents throwing little rocks at Clinton … “Little Rock” is generally known as the capital of Arkansas).

6.          Memory Palace

Visualize (create a mental picture for) each item you want to remember and mentally place that item’s image on or in mental images of a place with which you are familiar (like objects in your room, parts of your bicycle, etc.). Example to memorize the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, using objects in your living room: #1 Freedom: Picture yourself oiling the hinges of your front door so it opens freely. If you need more detail, see yourself enter speaking about something controversial (speech) with a group of friends (assembly), each carrying a different religious symbol (religion). #2 Bear arms: See the chair next to the door filled with guns. #3. Protection from soldiers camping out in your house: See yourself moving the sofa to block the door so soldiers outside can’t come in. #4 Unreasonable search and seizure: See yourself turn off the lamp next to the sofa, so nobody can see what is on the end table.  #5 Criminal protections: See the sofa filled with jurors who see you enter the room (grand jury), See a double image of the sofa and jurors (double jeopardy). See a judge sitting on the floor  instructing the jury (due process, fair trial). #6 Jury trial: See the glass table in front of the sofa (public transparency). See your lawyer spin the table round and round rapidly (right to a lawyer and a speedy trial). #7: Jury trial rights for federal crimes: See the coaster on the coffee table that looks like the U.S. logo jump into the lounge chair next to the sofa (federal charges require a jury trial too). #8 Protection against unusual punishment: See yourself convicted, and the bailiff tries to throw you into the roaring fire in the nearby fireplace. #9 Other non-specified rights: See yourself being free to click through TV channels on your remote. #10 State rights: See TV screen showing map of U.S. red and blue states during a Presidential election to remind you that it is the states that have all other powers not specified for the federal government.

Story Chain

Imagine a picture for each item you want to remember and mentally place it into a story that you make up. Example, to memorize the order of planets: You could image having a Mercury car run over your toe (Mercury), having a vein burst on top of your foot (vein for Venus). Then you fall down on the ground (earth). A “first responder”drives up in a Jeep (Jupiter), not an ambulance, and gives you a Mars (Mars) candy bar to make you feel better. You need to urinate, and he gives you an urn to sit on so you won’t be so conspicuous (sat and urn for Saturn). The urine rains down from you know where (you and rain for Uranus).  A second responder dressed like the god Neptune takes the urn and empties it into the nearby sea (Neptune). Then a stray dog that looks like Disney’s Pluto (Pluto) comes over to lick your face and comfort you.

While each of these seven techniques can be applied using words or language, the most effective approach is to convert words into mental images (like the Clinton image mentioned above). Once you create your own mental images, memorization becomes easier and more reliable—even fun! Some of these tactics may seem dumb or a little silly, but often the dumber and sillier they are, the more powerfully they promote memorization.

Memory Palace and Story Chain techniques are especially powerful. Successful “memory athletes” use them to compete in international contests designed to see who can memorize the most in the shortest amount of time. Without these techniques, their memorization ability would be no better than your own.

Two advantages of these memory aid techniques are not so obvious. One advantage is that these techniques exercise and develop your creativity. You must imagine mental pictures that work for you. The more you use these mnemonics, the easier it becomes to imagine useful images.

The other advantage is that you have to think about memory targets in order to construct relevant mnemonic images. As mentioned, the thinking itself is a powerful memory aid.

For each given memory task, choose the technique that seems to work best for you and that best fits the task. Make up your own scheme based on what is easiest for you to remember and what works best for you.

Once you construct a mnemonic for a given learning task, force yourself to recall it three or four times the first day. Repeat that forced retrieval once a day for the next four or five days. Remember: forced recall is essential to effective memorization. Moreover, recall is most powerful if you say it aloud, write it down, or draw it.

 

Next Lesson: Lesson 10.Learning from reading, lectures

Source: the eBook, Better Grades, Less Effort