‘How to remember things’

Year 11 Study Skills Seminar 3

Theories of memory

• Goal: move information from Short Term Memory to Long Term Memory

• Elaborative rehearsal – linking new information with existing information in your memory

Self-referencing

• The self-reference effect is a tendency for people to encode information differently depending on the level on which the self is implicated in the information.

• When people are asked to remember information when it is related in some way to the self, the recall rate can be improved.

Study methods

• Working with others– Teaching someone– Study groups

• Summaries• Flash cards• Acronyms / acrostics• Mind maps

Working with others

• Teaching someone• Study groups– No more than four people– Quiz each other– Supportive not critical

• Learning goals – hold yourselves accountable!

Summaries

• Organise information under headings and subheadings (study design dot points)

• Write key points in your own words

• Can become more abbreviated over time

Flash cards

• Great for definitions / vocab

Economic growth

A rise in the production of goods

and services from one year to the next

Acronyms / acrostics

• Roy G’Biv

• My Very Excellent Master Just Showed Us Nine Planets

• FPOT – frontal parietal occipital temporal

• Angry Parents Control Stuff – automatic processes are parallel, controlled processes are serial

Mind mapsHow to create one:

1) Write or draw the main concept in the middle of the page. This could be the area of study found in your subject’s study design.

2) Write the sub-topics or key words, attaching a line to the main concept. These could be the dot points listed under each area of study.

3) Annotate the sub-topics with definitions, examples, equations, symbols and/or pictures. Make them as personally relevant to you as possible, as this will help you remember the information. Ensure every dot point of the study design is covered.

4) Review your mind map – starting from the centre, explain what each branch means and how it ties in with the main concept.

5) Place your mind maps on the wall of your study area, and review them once a week.

Exam tips!

• Avoid talking to other people before and after your exams.

• Relax and focus on your own paper, not what anyone else is doing around you.

• Use reading time effectively.• Analyse each question: ask yourself where each

mark should be allocated to, and highlight key words. Ensure your answer is suitable for the question type (analyse, evaluate, define, etc.) and for the marks allocated.

• If you come across a difficult question, star it, and move on to the next question.

• Remember to express yourself as clearly and simply as possible – the more you mindlessly elaborate, the less likely your examiner will be able to find marks to give you. Direct your answer towards the exact question being asked.

• Stretch in your seat – rotate your shoulders, wrists, and ankles; shake out any tension.

• If you finish early, ensure that you go back to any questions you were unsure of and re-do as many questions as you have time for – this will increase your chance of success. If you remember something outside the exam room, it will be too late, so do not leave early!