applied continued

applied continued

1. mnemonics

   • facilitates learning & improves retention
   • distinctive
   • reduce memory load
   • involve association
     • link
       • create pairs of interactive & distinctive images
     • loci (places)
       • transformed into images then placed in locations on well known route
       • route= organisational structure
         • remember order
       • preferable if objects interact with location in distinctive manner
       • retrieval= retrace steps
     • keywords
       • foreign vocab- associate with english & form image between word & translation
         • atkinson & raugh
       • constraints- acoustic similarity, easy to form, keyword different from translation
   • useful for info which requires rote learning
   • makes encoding meaningful & provides retrieval structure
   • content specific- changing material diminishes benefit
   • method specific- can't retrieve using loci if encoded using keyword
   • build up interference- need to change routes
   • extensive practice requires

2. learning during sleep

   • research has found the brain continues processing during sleep
   • sleep protects existing memories from interference & facilitates reorganisation
   • no evidence that adults can learn info presented during sleep
     • possible that young infants can acquire knowledge

3. exceptional memories

   • Solomon Shereshevsky
     • no limit to capacity or durability
   • nature-innate talent for memorising (may involve synesthesia)
   • nurture- can be trained. Mnemonists make better use of abilities & use clever techniques
   • training is essential

4. improve test performance

   • process- develop deep understanding
     • understand better= better recall
   • organise- make chunks
   • test- consider format of test
     • develop arguments/facts
   • mnemonics-if factual knowledge is required
     • make them simple, visual, distinctive & interactive
   • general factors: health/attention/interest/motivation/existing knowledge
   • spacing- consider date of test
   • retrieval- practice doesn't need to be same format as test but should be demanding