Learning Strategies 1: Mnemonics http://www.virtualsalt.com/learn1.html
Robert Harris
Version Date: February 22, 2012
Overview: In this learning strategy, we discuss the
mnemonic strategies of chunking, combining, using graphics, and making stories
for memory enhancement.
Mnemonics.
Pronounce it knee MON icks. Mnemonics is the use of anything that helps
you remember, named after a Greek word meaning memory and the Greek goddess
Mnemosyne. To show you that memorizing can be fun, let's look at a dramatic
example of the power of mnemonics.
Let's say you want to learn the alphabet--backwards. Here
it is. You could just memorize it. That migiht appear to be a bit daunting, but
that's because you're probably looking at the entire string and wondering how
you can learn the whole thing all at once. But if you apply a couple of
learning strategies, you can learn the alphabet backwards in only five minutes.
ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Mnemonic strategy #1: Chunking. Instead of looking at the
backwards alphabet as one huge 26-character string, divide it into chunks that
can be handled. It's like cutting your steak (or tofu) into smaller bites--bite
sized chunks.
Mnemonic strategy #2: Combining. Twenty-six chunks is too
many to handle in working memory, so we need to combine some of the letters
into bigger chunks. In this case, we'll use four to six letters for a chunk. A
good example of a combined chunk is the area code in a phone number. We tend to
remember phone numbers in three chunks--area code, prefix, and final four. Area
codes are easy because so many phone numbers that we call have one of the
handful of same area codes.
Mnemonic strategy #3: Graphics. One key to memorization is
that whenever possible, use graphics to aid your learning. Pictures are
processed by the brain quickly and they can serve to attach your short-term
memory (which is trying to learn the alphabet backwards) to a schema (or previously
existing mental model or idea) in your long-term memory. In simple terms, this
means that pictures help you remember.
Mnemonic strategy #4: Stories. Create a story or sentence
around what you want to remember and the material will come back to you as you
remember the story or sentence. More about stories at the end of this article.
Okay, let's put all these strategies together and learn
the alphabet backwards.
In looking over the backwards letters, we can see a chunk
at the end that suggests an image and part of a story. Starting at the back
end, FEDCBA has fed in it, so CBA (Sheba or perhaps Ciba the cat?) might get
fed. Here's our picture and our chunk:
FEDCBA
Notice that you have already learned six of the letters of
the alphabet backwards in a highly memorable way, in less that half a minute.
We've chunked and combined six letters out of 26, created a visual hook with
the graphic, and made a story. Yes, "Fed Ciba (the cat)" is a story,
however brief.
But moving
back a bit more, what about MLKJIHG? Doesn't that remind you of a milk jug? And
isn't that appropriate for our hungry cat? So we add seven more letters in a
single chunk (or memory unit), and add the two pieces together:
MLKJIHGFEDCBA
Got it so far? Two chunks, two graphics, and a partial
story--a milk jug fed Sheba--reminds us of the last 13 letters of the backward
alphabet. That's half! So we have
two powerful memory devices running at the same time: pictures and a story. An
illustrated story.
Next we chunk out another short string of letters, RQPON,
which sounds like "our coupon" that we might have used to buy the
milk jug to feed Sheba. Now we have:
RQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Now we have to get a bit more creative because the
remaining letters don't necessarily suggest any objects. So, we're going to
chunk them into two final elements. First is an exclamation of surprise, ZYXW
(pronounced Zooksoo, or if you think it's better, Zykesoo), represented
graphically by an exclamation point. Then a friend with an ununsual name, Vuts
(pronounced Voots), which sounds a bit like an electrical short, so we use a
lightning bolt to represent it:
backwards alphabet
The memory story, then, is, Zooksoo, Voots, our coupon got
a milk jug that fed Sheba.
What have we learned (as the teacher always asks before
answering the question himself or herself)?
Ultimate Memory
* Well, we've learned the alphabet backwards in five minutes.
* And we have learned that memorizing is easier if you combine a story
with simple graphics. (Research shows that simple graphics are better for
learning concepts that complex graphics or even photos, unless there is
essential detail in the photos,)
* We have discovered that the way to learn something is to chunk it out
instead of tackling it piecemeal. Notice that with the backwards alphabet, you
are learning five elements of information, not 26 itty bitty ones or one
enormous one. Chunking is an important principle when you are going to study
for a test, creating learning materials, or just trying to remember some facts.
* We've learned what mnemonics is (and now you've also learned that
mnemonics takes a singular verb. It's just an odd word).
* I hope we've learned that memorizing can actually be fun if you take
up the challenge of creating some mnemonic devices.
Create a Story: Another Example
Let's look at another case. If you ask someone,
"Which month follows February?" you're likely to get a look that
implies, "Is this a trick question?" If you get a reply, it will
obviously be, "March, of course." And then you will say, "No, I
meant which month follows February in alphabetical order?" Or better,
first ask someone to say the months, and then after he or she rattles them off,
say, "No, please say them in alphabetical order." The person might
try, but it will be a struggle.
The quick recital and the struggle elegantly demonstrate
the difference between fluency in long-term memory (where the calendar order
months are stored) and the grinding work of making working memory sort things out
in real time. This dynamic difference also shows the importance of learning
things in the order or sequence they will need to be used, to make recall much
easier at the time of need.
But to return to our example. Alphabetical order for the
months is April, August, December, February, January, July, June, March, May,
November, October, September. Trying to remember this as a huge acronym,
AADFJJJMMNOS, though only half as long as the alphabet, looks too hard. So,
once again, we create a story. In this case, no graphics because the memory
string is fairly short. The story I created is this: "April's report card
was mixed, but she had three Jajul jewels from Marmayno's." This reminds
me that April is the first month in alphabetical order. A mixed report card
tells me that April got an A, a D, and and F (which reminds me of August,
December, and February). Her three jewels are the three J months, January
(comes first because it's also first on the regular calendar) July and June
(reverse of calendar order is something I remember), and then the the
department store, MarMayno's is March, May, November, October, and September.
Creating a story out of anything you want to remember is a
powerful strategy. We all remember stories much better than facts,
philosophical discussions, or a string of details. Stories have linear
continuity--they start somewere, go somewhere, and end somewhere, thereby
forming an organizing structure that connects one element to another. And they
usually have some semblance of a plot--which may or may not include a conflict.
But the plot creates interest and interest is the glue of memory.
Password Protection
Here, now, is a very practical application of mnemonics.
Did you know that "password" and "123456" are the two most
common passwords used? Not very hard to guess, are they? But why do people do
that? Simply because every site wants a password (changed regularly!) and who
can remember all those complicated ones? Mnemonics to the rescue! If you want a
difficult password that you can remember easily but that others won't be able
to guess, just make it a mnemonic. Find a sentence, proverb, Biblical verse, or
other saying you like and use the first letters of it for your password.
Examples:
* My best friend is Tom from Arizona. Password: MbfiTfA
* When two professors meet you have three opinions. Password: W2pmyh3o
* Ephesians 3:20 is a verse I love: E320iavIl.
* My cat Pete and my dog Fido don't get along: McPamdFdga.