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TEACHING TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE MEMORY RETENTIONTricia Leggett, DHED, RT(R)(QM)WCEC March 1, 2013

Upon completion of this presentation, you will be able to

Define memorization and understanding

Describe how various learning styles affect memorization and understanding

Describe instances where memorization is appropriate

Describe at least 3 memorization techniques

Implement at least 1 memorization technique into your professional practice

Thanks to Dr. Julie Gill, ASRT President Elect

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Memorization

To commit to memory; to learn by heart – Merriam Webster

British origin from mem-o-riseTo rise one’s memory

Understand

To grasp the meaning of; to be thoroughly familiar with – Merriam Webster

British origin from understandanTo stand under

Memorization vs Understanding

Some researchers believe that memorization and understanding are mutually exclusiveCan one understand through memorization?If one memorizes does that mean that (s)he doesn’t understand?

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Literature Review

The process of learning how to address the concepts is as important as the concepts themselves.

Miller et al. (2002): “Information and the skill of managing information are always important in understanding complex subjects.”

Learning how to learn

Literature Review

Material is best learned using a variety of methods:Ward and Walker (2008): “…successful students used a multitude of study methods while the struggling students relied on a single method alone, although these methods varied from student to student”

Students who used multiple study methods had better recallStudents who used a memorization-heavy study method tended to perform poorly in class

Literature Review

Moving short-term knowledge to long-term storageWhat about medical school education?

Magid, Hudson, Feigin (2009): “It may be important to recognize that older approaches such as memorization and testing are still necessary to start building the enormous “filing cabinet” of facts that must be cross-linked, revisited, and retrievable...”

Effectively memorized radiographic chest anatomy proved transient without further exercise

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Literature Review

Students value memorization as a study methodLin and Tsai (2008): Student comments – “If you do not memorize theories at the beginning, it is very difficult to extend.” “Memorization is still very important. You need to memorize professional terms first, and then organize your own knowledge structures.”

AKA Retrieval Practice

Retrieving information from memory makes that information more recallable in the future than it otherwise would have been

The deeper, more difficult, and more complex retrieval is, the more powerful that retrieval will be in facilitating successful retrievals in the future

Practical Applications

Tests that require learners to engage in deep and elaborative retrieval processes are likely to be highly effectiveThe time students invest in rereading or reviewing their notes would be better spent practicing retrieval – testing themselvesMost students are not good at judging the success of their study habits, so we must help them!

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Learning Styles

Visual

65% of the population

Absorb information best by reading and seeing

Visual LearnersLove books, magazines, and other reading materials

Relate best to written information, notes, diagrams, maps, graphs, flashcards, highlighters, charts, pictures computers.

Like to have pen and paper handy

Enjoy learning through visually appealing materials

Feel frustrated and restless when unable to take notes.

May have exceptional "photographic memories"

Can remember where information was located on a page

Need a quiet place to study

Benefit from recopying or making their own notes, even from printed information

Have trouble following long lectures

Tend to be good at spelling

Benefit from field trips where observation skills can be used

Tend to be detail oriented

Are usually organized and tidy

Often ask for verbal instructions to be repeated

Benefit from previewing reading material.

Skilled at making graphs, charts or other visual displays

Write down directions or draw a map

Need to see the instructor's facial expressions and body language

Concentrate better with clear line of sight to blackboard or visual aids

Remember how people looked and dressed in the past

Prefer written instructions to oral ones.

Don't remember names easily.

Suggestions for Visual Learners

Write things downJot down key points on post-it notes and display around the houseCopy what's on the boardSit near the front of the classroom to see instructor clearlyWrite key wordsCreate visual reminders of auditory info

Use mind maps to summarize large tracts of informationTake notesMake listsWatch videosUse flashcardsUse highlighters, underlining, etc.

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Learning Styles

Auditory

30% of population

Absorb information best through the sense of hearing.

Auditory Learners

Being talkative in classRelate most effectively to the spoken word Learn effectively through lectures, audio books, oral presentations, music or verbal instructionsUnless heard, information has little relevance Prefer giving oral reports to written onesRemember who said what in the pastEnjoy discussions and debatesBenefit from reading aloud.Follow oral directions better than written onesTend to memorize wellPrefer listening to the news Remember namesNotices sound effects in moviesDoesn’t automatically understand graphs, diagrams or mapsEnjoys talking to othersLikes to tell jokes and stories

Enjoys musicOften sings, hums or whistles to themselvesMay use finger as pointer when readingTalks to selfIs good at grammar and foreign languagesRepeat phone numbers in order to repeat them.Uses jingles to remember pieces of informationBenefits from study groupsPrefers to listen to music rather than view a piece of artReads slowlyFollows spoken directions well.May be articulate speakersCan’t keep quiet for long

Suggestions for Auditory Learners

Use audiotapes for learning languagesRead textbooks aloud.Repeat facts with eyes closed.Ask questions.Describe aloud what is to be remembered. Use word association to remember facts and lines.Watch videos.Participate in group discussions.Listen to taped notes.Record lectures & listen to them again.Use audiotapes.Avoid auditory distractions.

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Learning Styles

Kinesthetic

5% of the population

Tactile or kinesthetic learners absorb information best by doing, experiencing, touching, moving or being active in some way.

Suggestions for Kinesthetic Learners

•Enjoy feeling, discovery and action

•Remember by using tools, building models and manipulating things

•Learn through emotions, touch, movement and space

•Enjoy demonstrations of concept demonstrations

•Master skills through imitation and practice.

•Benefit from hands-on teaching techniques

•Find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time.

•Remember who did what in the past, rather than what they said or how they looked.

•Prefer to stand, walk about or use large motor muscles when learning.

•Learn well from field trips and excursions.

•Tends to collect things

•Do not have good handwriting

•Are weaker at spelling.

•Talk fast using hands to communicate

•Benefit from role-playing and simulations

•Enjoy having background music while studying or working.

•Learn more effectively when free to move

•Studies effectively laying on floor or bed, fidgeting, tapping fingers or touching objects

•Good at sports

•Take frequent breaks when studying

•Think in terms of physical action

•May play a musical instrument.

•Enjoy exploring the environment

•Participates in martial arts, dance.

•Can grasp concepts when abstract theories are combined with practical experience

•Enjoy science experiments, construction games, arts ad crafts

•Could be considered hyperactive

•More relaxed and open to learning in a beanbag than a hard chair.

•Good internal compass for finding their way around.

•Get restless during long lectures

•Comfortable touching others as a gesture of friendship

•Prefer participating actively rather than watching video or reading from a book

Suggestions for Kinesthetic Learners

Create a modelDemonstrate a principlePractice a techniqueParticipate in simulationsEngage in hands-on activitiesStudy in comfortable position, not necessarily sitting in a chair

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Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Logical-mathematical

Spatial

Linguistic

Bodily-kinesthetic

Musical

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Naturalistic

Existential

When is Memorization Appropriate?

Just the Facts:The brain is a learning tool

The longer an item can be saved in short-term memory, the more likely it will be pushed to long-term memory

Memorization yields an addictive sense of accomplishment

When is Memorization Appropriate?

Facts

Short Theories

Definitions

Image Labeling

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Memorization Techniques

Learn AloudRepetition – short & quickNo less than 3 timesPronunciation mattersTake a break and come back to it

What have you learned or taught by using the “learn aloud” technique?

Memorization Techniques

Imagery – for visual learnersImage associationPicture items together or in clustersPicture bullet points or bubbles

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What have you learned or taught by using the “imagery” technique?

Memorization Techniques

AcronymsLetter combinations serve as a cue

DABDA

PMAT

What acronyms have you used to learn something or to teach others something?

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Memorization Techniques

Letter PlayCluster letters togetherAssociate letters with each other

What have you learned or taught by using the “letter play” technique?

Memorization Techniques

Word PlayAssociate items with wordsUse first letter from each word to make a sentence

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What have you learned or taught by using the “word play” technique?

Memorization Techniques

AssociationTo something near or similar

What have you learned or taught by using the “association” technique?

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Memorization Techniques

Emphasize differences

• Diagnostic radiation production happens in the x-ray tube• Incoming electron• Interacts with:

inner shell electron = characteristic radiationnuclear force field = bremsstrahlung radiation

• Interactions between x-rays and matter occur in biologic tissue• Incoming photon or x-ray• Interacts with:

inner shell electron = photoelectric effectouter shell electron = Compton effect

What have you learned or taught by emphasizing differences or similarities?

Purposeful memorization can result in keeping items in the short-term memory longer, which makes it easier to transfer them to long-term memory storage.

Memorization is an effective study method.

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Tricia Leggett, DHEd, RT(R)(QM)Zane State Collegetleggett@zanestate.edu 740.588.1271

Questions?