improving memory and reading

ImprovingMemory and Reading

How does the memory work?

Three Stages Sensory Register Short Term Memory (STM) Long Term Memory (LTM)

Sensory Register

Lasts less than a second Records sensory experience Allows the brain to process info Helps us to focus on relevant info

The Sensory Register is like a quickly fading photo of your sensory experience

Short Term Memory

Lasts about a half a minute Temporary and limited Records what we see, hear, do, taste,

touch Purpose is to ponder significance

and decide if it is important enough to remember

Magical Number 7

It is easier to remember material grouped in chunks of seven (+ or –2)

Common 7’s

Telephone Number License Plate Days of the Week Colors of the Rainbow Deadly Sins 7 Dwarfs (Snow White) Can You Name Some Others?

Long Term Memory

Large capacity Permanent storage Use it to store important information

for future use Use it to store information for college

success

How are long term memories formed? Takes purposeful action

Repetition Meaningful association

It must have survival value Personal reasons To pass a test

These Help Motivation

Interest or Joy in learning

Is It True that We Never Forget? We remember what is stored in

Long Term Memory (LTM) This is the goal of college study

How Long Do We Remember?

Sensory Register less than one second

Short Term less than one minute Long Term permanent

Summary

To Store Information in Long Term Memory

Requires rehearsal Apply memory techniques

•Rate of Forgetting (or losing access)

•AFTER 20 MINUTES 47%• AFTER 1 DAY 62%•AFTER 2 DAYS 69%•AFTER 15 DAYS 75%•AFTER 31 DAYS 78%

Hermann Ebbinghaus

When is the best time to review?

Review within 20 minutes

Ready for a memory test?

How did you remember?

Memory Techniques

Meaningful Organization

Memory is like a library

If you miss-file a book, You cannot find it.

It is still there and you may stumble across it one day.

Organize those thoughts!

File your books correctly.

Organize it.

Learn from the general to the specific

Make it meaningful

Remember the Magical Number 7?

Organize in Groups of 7 or Less

Visualization

Make a mental picture of what you want to remember

Commercials make good use of this technique

Recitation

One of the most powerful techniques Memories exist in the form of a

chemical neural trace Some researchers think it takes 5

seconds to establish this trace Repeat it 5 times or keep it in your

mind for 5 seconds

READY FOR THE TEST AGAIN?

YOU’LL DO BETTER THIS TIME

More Memory Techniques

Develop an Interest

We tend to remember what interests us

Can You Remember?

Music Sports Hobbies Styles

Find Something Interesting in Your College Studies

See the Big Picture

Understand the main points first and the details second

Imagine trying to see a painting one inch at a time! It is difficult to appreciate or understand.

“The essence of genius isknowing what to overlook.”

William James

Intend to Remember

Tell yourself that you are going to remember.

Intend to remember where you put your keys!

Distribute the Practice

Learn small amounts at a time Review frequently

EXAMPLE:SAFMEDS

SAYALLFASTONE MINUTEEACHDAYSHUFFLE

Create a Basic Background

We remember by making connections to what we already know

At first college is difficult because you are establishing the basic background

Relax While Studying

You can’t remember if you are embarrassed

Frustrated

Tired

Memory Tricks

Acrostics

Creative rhymes, songs or poems

Musical Notes: Every Good Boy Does Fine

Acronyms

Create New Words as Memory Aids

NASA

LASER

SCUBA

Exercise: Practice with Mnemonics

Peg Systems

One Bun Six Sticks

Two Shoe SevenHeaven

Three Tree Eight Gate

Four Door Nine Wine

Five Hive Ten Hen

Picture the Peg

Bun

Connect what you want to remember. Use a picture.

Bun Milk

Exercise: Remember a Grocery List

Peg Systems

One Bun Six Sticks

Two Shoe SevenHeaven

Three Tree Eight Gate

Four Door Nine Wine

Five Hive Ten Hen

Loci Systems

Use places to remember A House A Hallway

Can you strengthen your mind?

Exercises to Strengthen the Mind Puzzles Music Fix Something Art Dance Aerobic Exercise Interesting People

Keeping Your Mind Healthy

Exercise Rest Balanced, low-fat diet Eat proteins and carbohydrates Drink caffeine in moderation Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol Use safety gear

Part II: Read to Remember

Warm Up Your BrainCan You Remember the Grocery List?

Peg Systems

One Bun Six Sticks

Two Shoe SevenHeaven

Three Tree Eight Gate

Four Door Nine Wine

Five Hive Ten Hen

Sum: Apply these super learning techniques Meaningful Organization Visualization Recitation Develop an Interest See the Big Picture First Intend to Remember Distribute the Practice Create a Basic Background Relax

Myths About Reading

If I read, I should remember what I read.

Generally people cannot remember 50% of of the material they have just read!

Myths About Reading

If I read, I should remember what I read.

I do not need to read if I go to class. Practice makes perfect.

SQ4RA shortcut to college reading

Read onceInstead of Re-reading.

Recite for memory improvement

Step 1

SurveyQuestion

FAST

Why?

•Beginning of speed reading•Improves comprehension

How? Quickly look over the chapter Turn the subtitles into questions

Survey See the big picture Ease into studying Warm up Create a basic background Get started

Question Read to find answers Improves reading comprehension Forces you to concentrate

??

Keeps you awake

Become an Active Reader

Exercise: Surveying and Questioning a Chapter

Step 2Read

Recite

SLOW

FAST

This step is most important for

Memory

How?

Read to identifythe topic sentenceor main idea

Underline or highlight the idea if it is important.

When reading is tough Read it again Look up new words Read it aloud Ask the instructor Stand up and read Use tutoring Pretend you understand Take a break and come back later

Read with a Dictionary

Use 3X5 cards to learn new words

Recite Most powerful memory technique Converts information from short

term to long term memory Keeps you alert

FAST

Step 3

Review

ReflectFAST

Why?

Reinforcesmemory

When?

Within 20Minutes!

Most of the forgetting occursin the first 20 minutes.

How to Review

After each main section, review the main points

At the end of the chapter, quickly review the main points one more time

Do your review quickly

Reflection is the creative step

Reflection How can I use this? What is important? How does it relate? How can I use it

in my career? Is it true?

A step beyond memorization is

Wisdom

REFLECT

Sum:SQ4R

Online Reading Strategies

What is your purpose for reading?

For college material:

Scan first.

Look for key points.

Make note of the important points.

Review.

What to do if the reading goes in one ear and out the other.

What to do if the reading goes in one ear and out the other? Tell yourself you can do it! Try visualization. Look for personal meaning. Scan for important points. Talk to the text as you read it.

4 Gears of Reading

Skimming (2000-3000 WPM) Rapid Reading (300-800 WPM) Slow Reading (150-300 WPM) Studying (200 WPM)

Guidelines for Marking a Text

A Mind Map for Marking a Text

BE SELECTIVE20%

“THE ESSENCE OFGENIUS IS KNOWINGWHAT TO OVERLOOK”

Marking

BE SELECTIVE20 %

WHY?

MEMORYSAVE TIME

“THE ESSENCE OFGENIUS IS KNOWINGWHAT TO OVERLOOK”

Marking

BE SELECTIVE20 %

WHY?

MEMORYSAVE TIME

GUIDELINES

READ FIRSTORGANIZE

NOTES IN MARGINBRIEFFAST AND NEAT

“THE ESSENCE OFGENIUS IS KNOWINGWHAT TO OVERLOOK”

Marking

BE SELECTIVE20 %

WHY?

MEMORYSAVE TIME

GUIDELINES

READ FIRSTORGANIZE

NOTES IN MARGINBRIEF

FAST AND NEAT

SYMBOLS 1 2 3

** *

“THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWINGWHAT TO OVERLOOK”

Marking

BE SELECTIVE20 %

WHY?

MEMORYSAVE TIME

GUIDELINES

READ FIRSTORGANIZE

NOTES IN MARGIN

BRIEFFAST AND NEAT

SYMBOLS 1 2 3

** *

“THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWINGWHAT TO OVERLOOK”

Marking

BE SELECTIVE20 %

WHY?

MEMORYSAVE TIME

GUIDELINES

READ FIRSTORGANIZE

NOTES IN MARGINBRIEFFAST AND NEAT

SYMBOLS 1 2 3

** *

“THE ESSENCE OF GENIUS IS KNOWINGWHAT TO OVERLOOK”

DOUBLE SYSTEM

1. UNDERLINE IN PENCIL2. HIGHLIGHT AS PART OF REVIEW

More Ideas on Text Marking

Point out definitions by writing DEF in the margin. Circle the word being defined.

Point out examples by writing EX in the margin

Write SUM in the margin to point out useful summaries to reread.

Group Activity:Make a Mind Map Use How Does the Memory Work?

An Example of a Mind Map

Understanding the main ideas= Success on tests

The Listing Pattern Presents a List of Items Your task as a reader is to identify all

items listed Watch for clues such as numbers or

letters

Sequence Pattern

Presents a list of items in a specific order. The order is important.

As a reader, identify and mark all items in the series and note their order.

Again clues are numbers or letters. Notice words such as then, next,

finally

Definition Pattern

Presents an explanation of a term As the reader, understand all parts of

the definition Watch for words such as: is, is

defined, this term means, is known as, refers to

Comparison/Contrast Pattern

Presents similarities or differences As a reader, recognize these

similarities or differences For comparisons, notice these

words: similarly, likewise, also For differences, notice these words:

however, in contrast, on the other hand, nevertheless

Cause/Effect Pattern Presents the reasons things happen

(causes) and their results (effects) As a reader understand the cause and

effect For cause notice these words: causes,

produces, leads to, results in For effect notice these words: results

from, was caused by, due to, consequently, therefore

Keys to Success: Positive Thinking

You can improve your reading and your life with positive thinking!

If you think you are beaten, you are.If you think you dare not, you don’t.If you like to win but think you can’t,It’s almost certain that you won’t.

Life’s battles don’t always goTo the stronger woman or man,But sooner or later, those who winAre those who think they can.

Exercises:Check Your Textbook Reading skills

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