Memorization Techniques

[Gil]

I don't know where to begin, but we are looking to learn a variety of memorization techniques.

We want to train our memories for texts, images and everything else.

 

There are a dozen or more books on Amazon, almost all of them with high ratings and similar in price.

Where should we start?

[maize]

Anything at your local library? It would be nice if you could preview a few books and figure out which might be a good match for you.

[wintermom]

We've actively used a couple memorization techniques for our Taekwon-Do theory. The 2 techniques were introduced by the school's founder, who is an engineer as well as martial artist. My engineering uncle also heavily used at least one of these same techniques. I'm not sure what the official names of the techniques are, but here is a summary description. They are both very useful for people of all ages, and I really wish I had learned more about them at an earlier age. I'm definitely going to do more with my dc.

 

1.  Make an acronym to remember a short list of specific terms. You will need to study and be able to fill in more details about the items in the list, but having the correct term is the key starting point. Example: The Theory of Power: MRS BBC = Mass, Reaction force, Speed, Balance, Breathing, Concentration

 

2.  Have a set image that represents a number from 1 - 10, for example.  The item you want to memorize interacts or is used in some way with the set image. You can change the list of items for different lists, but the set image remains constant.  Or you could create specific images for an important list.  Here's an example of one important list we had with specific images. 

 

The 10 Training Secrets of Taekwon-Do

 

1 = mature oak tree  =  The Theory of Power ( the tree is in the shape of a 1, and it is very powerful. You cannot kick or knock it down.)

 

2 = light switch with an on/off position  =  Every movement has a purpose and application  (There are 2 positions in a light switch; know the purpose and application of each block and kick in your patterns, and how they would be used in sparring)

 

3 = 3-legged stool  =  Coordinated action of eyes, breath and body for each movement (Ensure that each movement finishes with these 3 components)

 

 

Etc. 

 

I'd probably start at the library and see what the various techniques actually were. It's very hard to tell from a title alone.

[wendyroo]

I found Joshua Foer's Ted Talk about memorization very interesting.

 

Wendy

[Wilma]

I read a book called Fluent Forever. It's about language learning, but memorization (obvs) is key. I highly recommend the book. Gabe Wyner talks a lot about spaced repetition - the idea that in terms of memorizing deeply, the best time to recall something is right before you would have otherwise forgotten.

 

This book has influenced my schooling for sure, and not just in the foreign languages.

 

Sent from my XT1094 using Tapatalk

[Alessandra]

Not a how-to book, but The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci is a wonderful book about a 16th century Jesuit priest who travelled to China and learned memory techniques.

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Memory-Palace-Matteo-Ricci/dp/0140080988

Edited January 19, 2016 by Alessandra

[sbgrace]

Whatever technique you use, the key to memory is recalling/pulling the memorized information out the brain--think "testing" and not reviewing. Each time you try to recall something, the paths get stronger. Someone upthread mentioned spaced repetition. This is really important if you want actual retention. I read this really interesting collection of research on long term retention. http://www.gwern.net...aced repetition It was fascinating.

 

The piece is long, though, and very detailed. I appreciated all the research studies the author summarized and cited, as well as the thoughts he/she added.

 

This is  one article he links in the end of the piece about memory with spaced repetition that is easier to digest http://www.nytimes.c...ews/07mind.html

 

Finally, there is a neat technique I learned for memorizing text. You write down the first letter of each word of the text you want to memorize. Read a small chunk/section a few times. Then try to repeat it using the letters as hints and accuracy checks. Once you have it with the letters, try without. Once it's mastered, repeat with the next chunk. When finished with the second chunk, try the entire thing from the start. Rinse and repeat for the entire text to be memorized. This works really well for one of my kids.

Edited January 19, 2016 by sbgrace

[fraidycat]

Learning How to Learn on Coursera had some great interviews with some memory experts. I highly recommend the course.

[Tranquility7]

I wholeheartedly agree with the spaced repetition comments. Also, keep in mind that doesn't just mean rote memory. We do a ton of spaced repetition for every subject using Anki - which I cannot recommend highly enough!!!! - but sometimes our Anki includes a mnemonic. For instance, for the classification structure, my card just asks "What is the biological classification structure?" but then when that card comes up, I add, "Tell me the mnemonic first." My kids will say, "King Philip Cried Out For Good Soup: Kingdom Phyla Class Order Family Genus Species." That way they get practice with their mnemonic and the info it helps them remember.

 

As far as books go, I highly recommend Make It Stick (Brown, Roediger, McDaniel), which is an **excellent** book about learning. On memory in particular, I can also recommend Your Memory by Higbee, and Memorize the Faith by Vost. The latter is specific to memorizing Christian (and Catholic) content, but it is a good practical example of how to actually use the method of loci, if you decide you are interested in that. I also sort of recommend Moonwalking With Einstein by Foer; I say "sort of" only because I have only barely started it, but so far I do enjoy it (especially the fact that he is a real guy trying to learn these techniques and he walks you through them as he tells his own experiences).

 

My highest recommendations, though, are 1) Read Make It Stick, and 2) Use Anki faithfully and *outloud* with your kids (so you are ALL memorizing the material, including you).  As you learn them better, let the cards spark discussion as they come up. You will be amazed at how much you all will learn. Incorporate mnemonics into Anki when you need to, but if you simply learn the material and **connect** it to what you have already learned, that is truly the best mnemonic of all!

 

 

Edited January 19, 2016 by tranquility7