1. Memory and retention is an important part of learning. They are
means and tools in it. They are also synonymous to it. Better
memory and retention means better learning. Better learning means
better memory and retention. Memory, retention and learning is
best done and developed as skills through repetition which involves
frequency and variety
Strategies to Improve ...
Memory and Retention
2. ● Focus Your Attention
● Study Regularly
● Analyse
● Avoid Cramming
● Make Organised Notes
● Create Mnemonic Devices
● Explain and Practice
Here are some strategies to help you improve your ...
● Apply and Associate
● Picture Out
● Teach Others
● Different Locations and Time
● PQRST Method
● Bit by Bit and Frequently
● Healthy Body, Sharp Mind
Memory and Retention
3. First of all, you have to concentrate on what you
are doing. You are studying, memorising
important details and aiming to retain them. You
cannot simply go directly to memorising like
repeating the items over and over again. You
need to start with focusing your brain on what
you are doing. One best way to do so is to put
your heart into it. Be determined to succeed in
this simple but difficult task of memorising and
retain information.
Focus Your ...
Attention
4. To memorise the information you need to retain,
you have to repeat encountering them again and
again. You can do this by studying them over and
over again. Aside from being able to memorise
and retain the specific items in the lesson, you
are also able to sharpen your brain. This will
enable you to be better at memorising and
retaining what you will learn in lessons.
Regularly
Study ...
5. Aside from and together with focusing your
attention on your task of memorising and on the
lesson themselves, you should also analyse what
they mean. It will enable you to better understand
what you are studying and doing so will mean
that you will be able to better memorise and
retain them.
Analyse
6. As you study regularly, you can naturally avoid
cramming. This is because you do not need to
because you are already prepared. However, you
can still be pressured to cram even when you do
not need to. The reasons for this could be that
your surroundings full of classmates who are
cramming will pressure you and, alternatively or
additionally, you are not confident of yourself.
Giving in can mean that you will put at risk your
memory which you have otherwise had solidify.
Reassure yourself that you have already made the
necessary studying and have confidence.
Cramming
Avoid ...
7. When you do your regularly study time, jot down
notes in organised manners. You can start with
drafts which you can and will modify later. This
is a process and it will enable you to memorise
and retain the lesson as well as sharpen your
memory skills in general. As early as making the
first versions of your notes, the not so organised
ones, you are already starting the memorising
process. Then when you modify them, you are
continuing and completing them.
Organised Notes
Make ...
8. One best way of making notes is creating
mnemonic devices. They are memory aids that
you yourself will make. Again, this makes for
very good memory strategy because you will
process information more than once and in more
in-depth ways. This also has the element of
association which is another strong memory aid.
You associate the information you need to
memorise from the lesson more than once. One is
with the mnemonic device itself and another is in
the process or act of making them.
Mnemonic Devices
Create ...
9. Further, you can master the information and
learnings in the lessons you are studying by
explaining them to yourself and practicing how
you are or will be explaining them.
Practice
Explain and ...
10. To help you memorise important parts of lessons
and also hone your memory skills, you should
apply what you have learned and associate them
with actual events in life.
Associate
Apply and ...
11. In line with focusing your attention and
analysing, you should also visualise what you are
studying and memorising to retain in your brain.
Picture Out
12. If you have the time and resources, you can
extend your strategy of explaining to yourself by
teaching others. You can ask a friend to help you
study by being your student.
Teach Others
13. Advancing your strategies further, you can inject
variety in your studies. In addition to your
routinary study habits, you can go out of it and
study the same materials in a different time and
location. This will enhance your memory and
memory skills by dissociation. Association can
be very familiar. And there is still a possibility
that you might forget what you have studied if
you will be put in a place and time different from
that where and when you repeatedly memorised
them.
Locations and Time
Different ...
14. When you study and memorise, you can use the
PQRST method. It is very helpful. It means
preview, question, read, state and test. It is a
better version of repetitive reading or rehearsing
because it involves more and better memory
clues which are also called retrieval cues. You
preview what you will be studying and
memorising, ask questions about it, then read it,
state or give the answers to the questions and test
yourself. You can use the questions at the end of
the chapter or lesson.
PQRST Method
15. One important aspect of memorising and
studying is doing it bit by bit and frequently. Do
not overload your brain with information. Do not
bit more than you can chew. Do not have too
much on your plate. And because you are doing
it bit by bit, you will need to do it more. More
times means repetition which is also called the
mother of learning. These are the two
complimenting aspects of this strategy.
Frequently
Bit by Bit and ...
16. To have a sharp mind to study and do the
memorisation that you need to do, you should eat
healthily, exercise, have a physically fit body,
enough sleep, relieve stress, have fun and relax.
Sharp Mind
Healthy Body, ...