Meet the masterMeet the masterDr. FocusDr. FocusUnit SixUnit Six

StrategiesStrategies

Welcome back! So, you heard that you have a free Welcome back! So, you heard that you have a free gym pass? Before you can enter the gym, I want to gym pass? Before you can enter the gym, I want to teach you about memory strategies. There are four teach you about memory strategies. There are four main types: main types: rehearsalrehearsal, , organizationorganization, , associationassociation, and , and elaborationelaboration. Each can be used . Each can be used separately or in combination to help us remember separately or in combination to help us remember things better. things better.

Rehearsal Rehearsal is exactly what you think it is. When is exactly what you think it is. When want to remember lists of words, the best strategy is to want to remember lists of words, the best strategy is to repeat them many times. repeat them many times.

RememberRemember However, when you have more items than you can However, when you have more items than you can

remember, even when repeated, remember, even when repeated, organizationorganization is a is a better choice. These situations call for sorting the better choice. These situations call for sorting the items by some similar quality or organized by category. items by some similar quality or organized by category. Categorizing is called clustering. When we remember Categorizing is called clustering. When we remember information in chunks, it is easier to recall many of the information in chunks, it is easier to recall many of the items at once rather than individually.items at once rather than individually.

This With ThatThis With That

When you read the word “pizza”, what immediately comes to mind? When you read the word “pizza”, what immediately comes to mind? What about “teenager”? So, now you are probably hungry and shaking What about “teenager”? So, now you are probably hungry and shaking your head (if you have your own teens in the house). Why? How is it your head (if you have your own teens in the house). Why? How is it that simply reading words can elicit these responses?that simply reading words can elicit these responses?

Let’s say that you want to learn about how thinking works in the brain. Let’s say that you want to learn about how thinking works in the brain. This is a more complicated task that requires much more than simple This is a more complicated task that requires much more than simple memorization. In fact, you need to understand how the specific parts of memorization. In fact, you need to understand how the specific parts of the brain function to help you to create a new memory, for example. In the brain function to help you to create a new memory, for example. In this case, we use association. We associate the parts of the brain with this case, we use association. We associate the parts of the brain with specific memory functions. For example, we have learned that sensory specific memory functions. For example, we have learned that sensory information is processed together in the parietal lobe. In this example, information is processed together in the parietal lobe. In this example, we associate the creating a sensory impression with the parietal lobe. we associate the creating a sensory impression with the parietal lobe. What other types of information do we associate together?What other types of information do we associate together?

To remember information, our brain tries to To remember information, our brain tries to associateassociate packets of packets of memories together. A great way to study is to consciously create memories together. A great way to study is to consciously create connections between what you know and what you are learning.connections between what you know and what you are learning.

Then ElaborateThen Elaborate Tell us your favorite story about you. If you were to Tell us your favorite story about you. If you were to

do this, you would recall all of the details that create do this, you would recall all of the details that create a feeling or invite us to laugh. There is much more a feeling or invite us to laugh. There is much more remembered than just the facts of the memory. This remembered than just the facts of the memory. This is an example of is an example of elaboration.elaboration.

Of course, when we have to learn something that is Of course, when we have to learn something that is very complicated or that has many parts, we use a very complicated or that has many parts, we use a different strategy altogether. In this case, creating a different strategy altogether. In this case, creating a story or detailed explanation that contains all of the story or detailed explanation that contains all of the pertinent information will seem more interesting to pertinent information will seem more interesting to us. We remember the facts as a part of a greater us. We remember the facts as a part of a greater context.context.