I want to remember more things!

It is best to review the information within 24 hours of learning.

Reviewing again the next day, and then a week later will help solidify the memory.

The best time to finish cramming is 20 minutes or less before the test, so everything is still fresh.

Reviewing earlier and more often will help you remember information much longer– up to several years!

When is the best time to study?

STUDYINGVS CRAMMING

vs

How long does it take?The content from a one hour lecture

Is it worth it to review? That’s up to you!

Cramming looks like a pretty good idea right now, but does it save time?

Total time required when...

cramming

reviewing

Day 110 min

Day 3050 min

Day 25 min

Day 74 min

Whether you’re keen to learn or just want to pass your classes, there are optimal times to study in order to meet your learning goals.

Wait, so how fast am I forgetting stu�?!

According to the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, if you don’t review the information again...

After You recall

20 min

1 hour

9 hours

1 day

2 days

6 days

1 month

58%

44%

36%

34%

28%

25%

21%

There are a few tricks you can use to improve memory retention.

Sensory Memory

Creating the memory...

Strengthening the memory...

Memories are connections between di�erent cells in your

brain.

These neurons pass electrical signals to one

another.

The more you recall a memory, the stronger

the connection becomes.

Memories are never lost, but connections

will degrade over time and become harder to

recall.

Retrieval

Rehearsal

Attention

Working Memory Long-Term MemoryLess than 1 second A few seconds to a minute Potentially unlimited

How does memory work?

Day 1: the lecture

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Day 30: the exam

???

If we follow the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve...

For those of you who are not geniuses, Ebbinghaus developed the Forgetting Curve in 1885, demonstrating the rate at which our brain forgets new information.

PR

OS

CO

NS

Overall less time spent studying

Less stress before the test

Retaining information long-term

Need to be really organized

Extra time required to review

More time to do what you want instead of studying!

No planning required!

More stress when cramming

No long-term retention

The Keener The Slacker

SensoryInput

Mnemonics

To put it simply, mnemonics are techniques to make new information more relatable. A common mnemonic device is using acronyms to memorize a list.The letters in the acronym prompts the memory, and connects the information.

Active recall occurs when you engage your brain as you’re learning. Some active recall strategies include answering questions in your head as you’re learning, drawing out a diagram from memory, or explaining something you just read to someone else.

Active recall

If you can relate new information to things you already know, or things that are personally relevant to you, it will be easier to recall because you will be creating more connections to it in your brain.

Relate the topic to yourself

50minutes

19minutes 31

minutes saved when reviewing

Ho

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Q.A.

CREATED BY STINSON DESIGNWWW.STINSONDESIGN.COM

www.brainconnection.brainhq.com/2013/03/12/how-we-remember-and-why-we-forget/www.spring.org.uk/2012/10/how-memory-works-10-things-most-people-get-wrong.phpwww.csub.edu/~bru�/The%20Forgetting%20Curve.pdfwww.elearningcouncil.com/learning-theory/overcoming-ebbinghaus-curve-how-soon-we-forget/www.s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/88/36/af/8836af5ed2b11fecde84c6945bc4358d.jpgwww.coursehero.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/12.04-1.pngwww.elearninginfographics.com/wp-content/uploads/Memory-Retention-and-the-Forgetting-Curve-Infographic.png

STUDYING CRAMMING

TRUE FACTS ON

ROYGBIV