Methods to Improve Memory.......^^

Again, posting an article that my teacher gave me during my secondary school time. I don't know where she took it but believe me, it is really useful......because before this I thought it is just a waste of paper, but then, reading back the article, really useful for us......as a student......

A student was once heard grumbling to his friends,"Much of what we learn we forget. The more we learn, the more we forget, the less we know. So why bother to learn?"
When some students fail or do badly in their examinations, they give the excuses,"I just cannot remember." "I am not the memorising type!" "What I learnt just did not come out in the examinations!"
In our daily lives, memory is essential. We need to recognize places and people, to remember dates and time of appointments, to recall names, to remember roads and routes, to identify things and do so many other tasks. It certainly is an asset and advantage to have a good or strong memory. Imagine the doctor who cannot remember most of his patients, who has difficulty recognizing symptoms and remembering the names and effects of drugs. He will soon lose his patients. Likewise, the lawyer, teacher, engineer, in fact, a person in any profession, needs to remember a certain amount of knowledge and information.
Students cannot escape from having to memorize a certain amount of data or information in any subject. No doubt, examinations now tend to emphasize more and more on questions that are not merely based on simple recall or memory work. They demand thinking, understanding, analysis and synthesis. However, a certain degree of memory work cannot be avoided. In Mathematics, the students still need to remember certain formulae and methods to go about solving the problems. In language, remembering the meanings of vocabularly is important. Even in Computer Science, one still has to remember how to go about using a particular programme.


Tips to Improve Memory

@ Develop an Interest
Many students can easily remember the names of fooballers, singers, actors and actresses. Some can even
remember detailed information of the World Cup or the lyrics of many popular songs. Why? The answer is simple:
they have a keen interest in the subject. In the effective learning of a subject, an interest has to be
developed. Try to see the importance and significance of the subject to the world and relate it to your
everyday life.

@ Cultivate the Right Attitude
You must have the desire or the intent to remember. Learn to like or love every subject and be positive when
learning it. If you dislike or hate any subject then it is rather difficult to learn it and remember the
subject matter. Why do you detest any subject? If it's because you find it difficult, then try getting a good
tutor or good revision and reference books.

@ Appreciate the Background of the Subject
Knowledge and understanding of a particular subject matter can serve to motivate and inspire you in learning.
For example, knowing the background of an author and how the novel was written can inspire your learning.
Knowing about the life history of Michael Faraday can make a difference when you study his discouveries in
Physics and Chemistry.

@ Pay Good Attention
An alert and attentive mind can make a world of difference when it comes to your ability to remember. In class,
be very attentive to what is taught; sharpen your mind. Many students these days don't have very good listening
skills. As a result, very often a lot of subject matter is not registered in their minds when a particular
subject is taught in class.

@ Understand the Subject Matter
It is very difficult to memorize a chunk of information that makes no sense to you. Clear understanding of the
subject matter is very important before it can be learnt and retained in the mind. Ask questions and analyze
the subject matter; examine its significance. Of course, if you have difficulty understanding any part of a
subject, do not be shy to ask your teachers, seniors or your friends who know.

@ Review Immediately
After a lesson or lecture is given by your teacher, you should make it a habit to go over and review it as soon
as you can. When ideas, facts and concepts of a lesson are still fresh in your mind, review and retention are
more effective. Do not put off revision to the last moment, just before a test or examination. The subject
matter would have become more vague and hazy and time is wasted trying to make sense of it before learning it.

@ Organize into Categories
Trying to remember bits and pieces of a subject is difficult. Learn to group or categorize things which share
some similarities. For example, in Chemistry, coloured cations are grouped together; emphoteric oxides are
considered as a class and gases which have an odour are listed together. Likewise, formulae, equations and \
dates can be organized into meaningful categories.

@ Drill and Practice
It is a fact that most of the things we remember come about because we are so familiar with them-having
experienced or used them many times-remembering names, telephone or vehicle numbers and the homes of our
friends. Thus reviewing lessons repetitively naturally improves memory. In Mathematics, solving lots of
problems constantly is important. Recitation or saying things aloud helps to create a better impression in your
mind.

@ Relate New Things to the Familiar
To remember new information takes quite an effort. But if you connect or relate the new information to what is
already known, then remembering becomes easier. For example, in learning about porpoises, dolphins and whales,
if you note that they are all mammals and you already know the characteristics of mammals, then things get
easier. To recall the properties of the chemical element Astatine, relate Astatine to Iodine, Bromine and
Chlorine, all members of the same Group in the Periodic Table.

@ Form Associations
Items of information or facts can be easier remembered if you associate or form links of them with people,
places or things. For example, the symptoms of a particular disease can be better remembered if we associate
them with a person whom we know is suffering from the disease. Likewise, the shapes like triangles, oval and
trapezium. The more unusual, funny and exaggerated the association, the easier it may be for you to remember
the information.

@ Write, Draw, and Colour
Writing ideas and points down on paper help to create an impression in your mind and thus will help you to
remember. In your review or revision, scribble your points on paper and draw graphs, tables, charts and even
cartoons! They will help you to recall. The use of colours also helps. Use vivid colours to underline, shade
or highlight your learning items. Colours help the mind to focus.

@ Make Summarize
A condensed form of the main points is a useful way to remember learning materials. After reading and
understanding a particular topic in a chapter of the book, attempt to jot down clearly the summarised points.
In your review, focus on these points; it would certainly help you to recall the learning material. At any
time, you can refer to cards of summaries to refresh your memory particularly when the examination is drawing
near.

@ Use and Focus on Key Words
Key words or phrases can help to 'hook' on to the surrounding material of a particular topic. For example, in
learning the preparation of a soluble salt like sodium chloride, the key words may be:acid, alkali,
neutralization, filtration, evaporation, cooling and crystallization. In writing out the answer in the
examination, the key words help you to link or string ideas and other facts together in a clear and logical
order.

@ Don't Overload Your Memory
Avoid trying to memorize too many things in one session. It is better to break up items to be learnt into
groups-to be 'programmed' into your memory bank at different sessions. Remember to allow time for your mind to
rest and become clear. A tired, dense and cloudy mind cannot function effectively.