Music memory - Mnemonic games

Index
This section Index

Mnemonic index
Mnemonic and eidetic memory games

Puzzle
Logic games

Cards
Pyramid, Solitaire cards games

Math
Games for mind development

IQ test
Test your mind ability

Relax movies
Relax and meditation

Technique Thinking and linking

Scruggs says that mnemonics work best when they form a very clear link between known and unknown information, and when they are practiced routinely. Well-constructed mnemonics work so well initially that students sometimes assume that mnemonics never need to be practiced, but that is not true. Well-constructed mnemonics, however, if learned and practiced a few times at intervals, will be retained for a very long time.

"Mnemonics work -- although not necessarily better than other mnemonics -- when they are personal, such as a particular person`s name that implies a characteristic known only to those who know that person," Scruggs explained. "Those are harder to use with an entire class, although they provide an additional source of elaborations to individuals."

Although it often is thought that mnemonic images that are silly or ridiculous in some way are more memorable than "ordinary" ones, Scruggs says there is no scientific evidence of that. Some evidence does exist, however, that if one word is very different from the rest of the words in a list, it will be remembered better than the others.

To create an easy mnemonic for students, Scruggs suggests using the keyword strategy. Begin by prioritizing and choosing the most important vocabulary, terms, and concepts students should remember. Choose acoustically similar keywords familiar to all students. As examples, he offers "alliance" and "appliance," "anticline" and "ant climbing," "rhodochrosite" and "road," "William Jennings Bryan" and "lion," and "bodkin" and "body." Picture the keyword with the answer, meaning, or associated information.

Scruggs recommends using clip art to create the image for students. In an actual classroom, he advises that the teacher might introduce a mnemonic in this way, "W.J. Bryan, the Secretary of State at the time of WWI, was a pacifist who opposed war. The keyword for Bryan is lion. Remember this picture of a pacifist lion trying to stop fighting." Next, the teacher asks, "What is the keyword for Bryan? Who was W.J. Bryan? What was the strategy?"

Tips for Mastering New or Complex Material

Do something!

Ask Questions
Take Notes
Make Outlines
Post Notes
Explore
Break down information
Talk to Others
Test Yourself
Practice & Repeat

Ask questions:
- First ask yourself questions. For example,"What are the four main lobes of the cortex?" "What motivates the main character?" or "How does the new contract affect holiday pay?" Then answer the questions you have asked!
- Next ask questions of other people. Clarify anything you do not understand. For example, ask the instructor and other students to clarify information.

Take notes.
Write down things that stand out as you read or listen. Simply writing things down can help you focus on what you are reading or hearing.

Make an outline.
In addition to a traditional written outline, drawings, a flow chart, or stick figures can help you organize what you are reading or learning.

Post notes.
The best way to use a note is not to lose it. Put them on a wall, a mirror, or on the refrigerator. Circle items that you have learned and add questions or do more reading in areas that are unclear.

Explore.
Add to what you have read or heard by exploring more information on the topic from other books, the Internet, or through discussion.

Break information into smaller units.
If you are learning the parts of the brain, understanding a novel, or reviewing the new union contract, break the learning task into smaller parts. You can break them up according to the topic they cover. Then tackle the parts one at a time.

Talk about what you are learning.
Explain the ideas to someone else. Tell a friend, colleague, or family member what you are learning. Talk to yourself or your dog.

Test your knowledge.
Many textbooks include practice questions. If practice questions are not available, create your own. Team up with another student and trade questions.

Practice.
It`s important to apply what you are learning. With a skill such as using computer software or learning to play the piano, the need for practice may be obvious. However, practice will also help you understand plot analysis in a literature class or learn to interpret a contract.

Repeat.
Moving something from short-term to long-term memory takes time. Repetition is an excellent way to improve this process so keep at it.

Select two activities that you have not tried. Click here to type a description of how you might use each technique to help you with current ideas and information you need to remember.

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