Our age suggests that we must keep in mind a huge amount of different data. How to memorize large amounts of information? When you need to learn something quickly, the first thing a person turns to is cramming. But this way of remembering information is tedious and inefficient. Assimilation of the necessary material can be quite an exciting game if you use mnemonic memorization techniques.
What is mnemonics and mnemonics?
What is the essence of these two concepts? Mnemonics should be understood as methods and techniques for quick memorization. Combined, they allow you to fix a large amount of information in your head. The art of mastering these techniques is a mnemonic.
To develop the ability to memorize complex dates, numbers, texts and more is within the power of everyone. Methods and techniques of mnemonics for beginner adults and children are equally feasible. You can and should train your memory at any age. Of course, for this there must be a hugedesire.
How does mnemonics work?
Working with information is as follows:
- Some abstract data is taken.
- Further information is encoded. That is, certain connections are created between the data (associative, figurative, and so on).
- The next step is memorization and repetition of the material in a convenient form.
- Next, the information is decoded, that is, decrypted.
- One last thing: the materials that needed to be memorized are being played back.
This is the algorithm of the method of memorizing information. This process looks somewhat complicated for beginners. However, you should not be afraid of this. You will change your mind as soon as you start putting your memorization techniques into practice.
Criteria for mnemonics methods
There are a huge number of mnemonic memorization techniques, but they are all combined based on some criteria. What they have in common is:
- The effect of the new. It is not so important here what task you are focused on and what degree of its complexity. If the exercise is new to you, then you will feel great benefits from it. The main goal of the mnemonic device is to go beyond the familiar and ordinary environment.
- Difficulty level. Only that task will give the greatest efficiency, which requires mental effort. By straining your mind, you gain knowledge in return.
- Interested. If you do not experience pleasure from your actions, then the effectiveness of educational games for memory willequals zero. Stop at the one that brings you pleasure. Only in this case, the chances of not quitting training are high. Select the tasks themselves according to the level of difficulty with which you can cope. Gradually, you can complicate the classes.
Mnemonic memorization techniques
They are pretty easy ways to master the data you need. Memorization techniques are understandable to any person. Using them, you will be able to absorb and fix in memory a large amount of information.
There is a general rule for using mnemonic devices. It sounds like this: use the images and associations that first came to mind. If you create multiple options, you simply won't be able to select the right one later.
The basis of mnemonic devices are created associations based on logical, figurative or emotional relationships. This makes information easier to remember and recall. The creation of chains of associations should build on what is already known, while adding new things, namely what needs to be learned.
Memory methods in mnemonics
The most common method is to create associative and figurative series. Along with this, other methods are also distinguished: rhyming, mnemonic phrases, and others. Consider the basic mnemonic memorization techniques.
Creating figurative rows
The main emphasis in this case is on the visualization of memorized information. Several techniques are used here, which are based on visualimage manipulation. Let's take a closer look at them.
Overlay images
The essence of this method of memorizing information is to create links. They allow you to superimpose one image on another through the use of connections between the stimulus and the memorized material. Such mnemonics is a method and technique for beginning adults and children. It is suitable for learning a foreign language. By superimposing visual and acoustic imagery, a strong bond is created.
For example, when learning English, you need to remember the word trolley bus. Imagine a troll on a bus. This is the imposition of one image on another. A link is formed in the mind between visual images that are stimuli for memorization (a troll and a bus) and acoustic ones. When learning languages, you can come up with a variety of overlays.
Enlargement and reduction of images
Another method focused on the visualization of memorized information. The meaning of the technique is to replace a complex image with a simpler one. For example, you need to remember a phone number. How to use this approach? Imagine a phone in great detail: numbers, handset, etc. Now imagine the opposite. Gradually increase the size of the phone. Focus on buttons. So you can, mentally increasing the phone to the size of individual numbers on its buttons, remember the number you need.
Mnemophrases
A mnemonic phrase represents a short, often rhyming sentence. Mnemophrases are being builtbased on artificial associations. Used when you need to remember not too exciting facts.
This technique is often used in school practice. For example, in the lessons of the Russian language when studying the spelling of adverbs: I can’t bear to get married; when delimiting similar verbs: put on clothes, put on Nadezhda. An example of a rhyming mnemophrase is the comic definition of a bisector known from geometry lessons: this is a rat that runs around the corners and divides the corner in half.
Acrostic
This method of memorizing information is structured as follows: you need to compose a sentence (sometimes it is a poem), in which the first letters of each word are the beginning of the material for assimilation. Everyone has known one of the acrostics since childhood. So, in order for the child to remember the colors of the rainbow, he was told the following sentence: "Every hunter wants to know where the pheasant is sitting." Remembering this phrase, he could accurately name all seven items.
Location method
This technique is considered the most difficult, but nevertheless, with it, the memorization process will definitely not be boring. Follow the suggested points:
- Remember your familiar environment. It could be your own home or apartment, or your daily commute to work or school.
- After you imagine your house, mentally label each place in it with a number. For example, a door would be number 1, a sofa would be number 2, a carpet would be number 3, a mirror would be number 4, and a bookshelf would be number 5.
- And now, showingfantasy, write a short story. For example, about the fact that a pineapple was hung on the door, a fan was located on the sofa, a crocodile appeared under the carpet, a drum was attached to the mirror, and a brick was hidden between the books on the shelf.
- So you can remember the right words thanks to unusual associations.
Reception "Chain"
This method of mnemonics will help you remember words that are not related to each other. Building an unusual chain of images in your head, you can, for example, make shopping lists.
When going to the store, you need to buy the following:
- milk;
- pineapple;
- toothpaste;
- buckwheat;
- sour cream.
Now, in order not to forget anything, come up with a funny story. The more unusual and absurd it is, the better. So you remember the information faster. For example: "The milk played on the pineapple, the buckwheat didn't like it, she ran to the pineapple, but the sour cream stopped her, and the buckwheat mixed with the sour cream."
In this way, you can remember from five to a hundred unfamiliar words.
Techniques for memorizing numerical information
Let's look at how you can remember the numbers. The hardest part is learning the numbers. The association method will help here.
- Image series. Prepare a matrix of images in advance, each of which corresponds to a certain number. For example: one is a card, two is a glass, three is a bird, and so on.
- Method of creating figurative row. The most effective would be to usedigital designation of their graphic images and similarity with other objects. For example: the number 0 looks like a clock, a globe, since these objects and zero have a rounded outline. The number 1 evokes associations with a pencil, a candle, a nail. The deuce resembles a horse from chess, a swan. In this order, complete the remaining numbers with your associative series.
If you want numbers to be stored in your memory, or you are wondering how to remember dates from history, then this technique will allow you to effectively assimilate digital information based on the created images.
Techniques for memorizing textual information
Many schoolchildren and students, and adults involved in paperwork, are interested in the question of how to remember the text. In fact, once you practice, it's easy to do. Let's take a closer look at several of these methods.
OVOD method
The name of this exercise for the brain and memory consists of the first letters in the designation of the main stages of memorizing the text: the main idea, careful reading, review, refinement. Let's consider what the essence of each stage is in more detail.
- Main idea. It is necessary to read the text meaningfully. Here you need to perceive textual information and highlight the main thoughts contained in it. To do this, underline what is necessary. Alternatively, write out the necessary material on a separate sheet. For example, you need to remember the rule for writing compound adjectives. Reading the paragraph of the textbook, underline the main cases related togiven spelling.
- Careful reading. This stage represents rereading. Reading the text for the second time, pay attention to details and details. To do this, the reading should be leisurely, and also distinguished by attentiveness and thoughtfulness. The main goal of this method is the mental binding of the discovered details and the smallest details to the main thoughts of the text. So, as you re-read the material, pay attention to specific examples that describe the main cases of writing compound adjectives.
- Review. The name of the stage speaks for itself. Here the text is skimmed through. Moreover, viewing does not begin from the beginning, but from the end. The task of the stage is to draw up an approximate plan of the text and remember it as a sequence of implementation of the main ideas. To do this, when reading, ask questions on the highlighted points. For example, when spelling complex adjectives, we distinguish two cases: through a hyphen and together. Each of them includes subparagraphs with examples.
- Debugging. Now we are trying to repeat the text from memory. This is done as follows: first you need to remember the main points and only after that move on to the details. At the same time, try not to look anywhere. Then read the plan again, noting dangerous places: things that have been forgotten or missed, but are still important.
This example of a mnemonic memorization technique is best suited for the assimilation of textual information of a small amount. This technique has a cumulative effect. Once you have mastered the new information, repeat it a little later. itdue to the fact that it can be quickly forgotten. With this technique, the memory effect will improve over time.
Cicero Method
Named after a Roman orator and statesman, this technique is effective when you need to memorize a large amount of text. You can also find this method under other names - the room system or the place method.
Cicero, speaking in public, never relied on a written text. However, his speeches were always a huge success. How to memorize text using the Cicero method?
The use of this mnemonic method is reduced to the mental arrangement of important facts in a certain order in a well-known environment. The main thing is to determine the sequence of walking through the rooms in accordance with the location of the material. Each block of information must be associated with certain rooms. Starting with large spaces, over time you can move on to smaller details.
When using the technique for the first time, it's best to really walk around the house, "arranging" the material in the right places. Subsequently, this need will disappear. It will be enough to mentally repeat the memorable route.
For example, you need to memorize an entire chapter on economics "Market Models". Start in your room. Gradually moving around the house, read the material. Each market economy model is a specific room. After that, walk around the rooms again, while trying not to use the textbook.
