Chapter 5
Improving Your Memory
and
Learning Skills
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
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Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Purpose of This Chapter
To help you gain some of the best learning
strategies that will help you read to learn,
remember what you learn, perform better
on tests, and improve your learning
confidence.
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College Creates Substantive Change
in Individual Learners
Every student at the College should
undergo a substantial change in skill,
knowledge, or attitude as a result of the
student’s experience in every course.
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Learning Outcomes
Assess your learning strengths and
weaknesses.
2. Improve your concentration.
3. Create a good study environment.
4. Understand and improve your
memory.
1.
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Learning Outcomes
5.
6.
7.
8.
continued
Improve your reading comprehension.
Learn as you read.
Improve your reading comprehension
and retention in mathematics and
science reading assignments.
Challenge your self-talk study traps.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Based on all you learned from this chapter,
write what you think are your greatest:
1.
Learning strengths
2.
Learning weaknesses
 What will you do to overcome your
learning weaknesses?
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Learning Weaknesses?
There’s No Magic:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Overcoming a weakness is like getting in
shape You have to work at it.
Be determined to figure out how to
improve your weakness.
The greatest way to improve your
weakness is just to jump in and try what
you are bad at.
Practice it and you will get it!
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Self-Discipline is the Key to:
1.
2.
3.
Creating and using productive study
time.
Hurdling stress, distractions, and a host
of other obstacles.
Achieving your dreams.
Even self-discipline gets easier
the more you use it!
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
How to Overcome a Lack of
Self-Discipline to Study?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Acknowledge your own responsibility.
Tell yourself that, “Procrastination will sink me!”
Allow yourself to feel the resistance—and then tell
yourself, “I need to study.”
Then study!
When you’re finished studying, tell yourself, “That
wasn’t too difficult.”
Relish in the fact that you did it—this will be a future
source of motivation.
Self-Talk always has a role in directing your actions!
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
AGAIN  Most Learning in College
Takes Place Outside the Classroom
Completing Assignments
1. Reading
2. Studying
3. Activities/Projects
4. Practice
Remember allow a minimum of 3 hours of study
time per week for each hour of class time.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Memory
1.
Memory is simply retrieval or recall of information
that has been learned.
2.
It is said that athletes and musicians have
“muscle memory”—a repeatedly trained
movement that becomes automatic.
List other simple and complex skills or actions that
have become automatic for you.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
“Learning” Has Several Meanings
1.
2.
3.
The act, process, or experience of
gaining knowledge or skill.
Knowledge or skill gained through
schooling or study.
Psychology  Behavioral modification
especially through experience or
conditioning.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Difference Between
Learning and Memory
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What’s the difference?
Not all learning is transformed into lasting
memories.
Learning is how you acquire new information,
and memory is how you store that information
over time.
There is no memory without learning, but there
is learning without memory.
For example, looking up a telephone number
and remembering it just long enough to make
your call is “working memory.” It requires
learning but not for the long haul.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Learning vs. Memory
Generally people don’t differentiate between
learning and memory.
What really counts is,
are you working at it?
Use your self-talk to direct your efforts!
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
How the Brain Remembers
1.
2.
3.
The process of learning depends on a
chain of electrical, chemical, and physical
changes to the brains.
Repetition/practice increases the brain’s
neural circuitry, and thus learning is
remembered (stored in long-term memory).
Continued use (repetition) of information
strengthens the memory.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
To learn and remember information,
you must:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Have the motivation or hunger to gain knowledge.

Note: Strong motivation may actually count more
than your IQ.
Disciple yourself to pay attention/concentrate, or you
will miss it.
Work to understand before you can learn it.
Learn it before you can memorize it so it will be
committed to long-term memory.
See example  next slide
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Example—Snow Skiing
1.
2.
3.
4.
Have the motivation to put energy and concentration
into skiing.
Pay attention to and concentrate on the instructions.
Understand concept of turning, e.g. to turn right you
put your weight on your left ski and slide your left ski to
the downhill side.
Practice turning until it works fluidly and becomes
automatic.
 Give an example of a skill or knowledge that is now part
of your long-term memory.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Group Teach:
Strategies to Improve Your Memory
1.
2.
3.
4.
Divide into 6 groups.
Each group is assigned one of the 6 memory
techniques discussed in the text.
Each group will deliver a motivational
demonstration on its assigned memory
technique and engage the class in the
technique.
Groups will have 8 minutes to plan their
demonstration.
6 memory techniques  next slide
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Six Memory Techniques
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Understanding
Association
Recitation and Recall
Organizing Information
Visualization
Test Yourself
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Other Memory Techniques?
 What
other memory techniques have you
learned that are worth recommending to
your classmates?
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Downside to Learning
1.
2.
3.
We learn what we practice, whether negative
or positive.

Negative self-talk: “I hate studying.”

Positive self-talk: “I love learning.”
Avoidance of study is learned too!
Low expectations can also be learned!
Upside  you can override the negative and
redirect your attitudes in a positive direction.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Ever wonder who helps design your
program curriculum?
1.
Business and industries work with colleges to develop
curriculum including:



2.
3.
4.
General education courses
Major courses
Skill courses
They’re all designed to help prepare you for your future
career.
That’s a lot of learning and remembering.
Memory and learning techniques will help you learn
what you need and grow more neural circuitry—the
brain’s natural way of learning and remembering.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
At the base of your college success is:
. . . feeling, believing, thinking, and hoping
you will learn and succeed.
 Remind
yourself how important it is to stay
focused on your academic and career
goals.
 Rid yourself of: “I’m bored!” “I hate
studying!”  these thoughts do not
nourish your drive or self-esteem.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
A Good Study Environment to
Maximizes Learning
1.
No distractions if possible.
2.
A comfortable setting but one that keeps you
awake and focused.
3.
Establish a regular routine for study so you
and others get accustomed to it.
 Where are your best campus study spots and
why?
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Finding Your Best Time to Study
Do you do your best work at the crack of
dawn? Or, are you a night owl?
Finding the right time to study is very
important to learning.
Your preferences may change.
1.
2.
3.

too many 2 am study nights is enough to
make you rethink your best study time!
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Finding Your Best Time to Study
continued
The key is to plan your day so:
4.



you perform your hardest learning tasks at your best
time, and
your easiest learning tasks at your least preferred or
least productive time.
Make use of small amounts of time between
classes, appointments, or activities.
 Have you identified your best times for
learning/studying?
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Class Survey  What are your
most productive study times?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Early in the morning before ___________
In between classes
Right before dinner
Early evening
Late evening
Middle of the night
Other ___________
I take advantage of all of the above.
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Get ready to study
1.
Stop everything and clear/relax your mind.

Avoid the negative thought creep.
2.
Have a pleasant 5–10 minute relaxation
session visualizing clouds, the ocean,
Christmas lights, the mountains, or listen to
relaxing music.
3.
Then stop and tell yourself, “I am ready to
study.”
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Concentrate
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Focus on one thing at a time.
Use Self-Talk to stay focused and concentrate.

“I will focus on my writing assignment for
the next hour.”
Know you have a choice to welcome or reject
distractions.
Recognize when you need to rejuvenate.
You often need a break from some
assignments so you can return with fresh
ideas.
Get plenty of exercise and night-time sleep.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Break it Up!
1.
2.
Determine study start and stop times—
maybe 50 minutes to 2 hours. What
works for you? Knowing how long you
plan to stay focused helps you stay on
task!
Determine a target—“I’ll read 4 sections
and then take a tea break.”
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Study Breaks to Reenergize Your Mind
2.
Take a walk
Have a glass of water to refresh.
3.
What works for you?
1.
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Time Plus Energy Equals Learning
1.
2.
3.
There is no substitute for time on task.
Learning to use your time well is critical
for you as a student as well as when you
are a career professional.
Effective learning requires allocating
realistic amounts of time.
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Use a Reading Method That Helps You
Learn What You Read
 Reading
is perhaps the most used
learning skill in college and in most
professions.
 Reading without both concentration and
comprehension is almost like not reading.
 The best reading methods help you
concentrate, learn, and remember what
you read.
 They also set up practice tests in your text.
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PRQRT
Step 1—Preview
Step 2—Read, Question, and Recite
Step 3—Test
1.
Explain the details and purpose of PRQRT
2.
How does PRQRT help you prepare for
exams?
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SQ3R
S = Survey
Q = Question
R = Read
R = Recite
R = Review
1.
Explain the details of SQ3R
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Reading Math
Class discussion
 What
is the best way to read and
understand your math reading
assignments?
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10 Ways to Reduce Math Anxiety
Before the Test
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Overcome negative self-talk.
Ask questions.
Consider math a foreign language—it
must be practiced.
Don’t rely on memorization to study
mathematics  Practice Problems.
READ your math text and practice
problems.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
10 Ways to Reduce Math Anxiety
Before the Test continued
Study math according to YOUR LEARNING
STYLE.
7. Get help the same day you don’t understand.
8. Be relaxed and comfortable while studying
math.
9. “TALK” mathematics.
10. Develop responsibility for your own successes
and failures.
6.
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Reading Science and Technical
Books
Class discussion
 What
is the best way to read and
understand your science and technical
reading assignments?
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See Figure 5-9:
Self-Talk Study Traps
What self-talk study traps do you need to
address and redirect to achieve your
learning goals?
Your self-talk will be the most important
motivational factor
in learning or not learning.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Key Chapter Points
1.
The techniques and strategies for improving
your concentration, learning, memory, and
reading in conjunction with the use of positive
self-talk will give you greater control over your
learning.
. . . and learning promotes self-confidence.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Key Chapter Points
continued
Using SQ3R and PRQRT strategies
helps you identify important information
and anticipate possible test questions.
2.

These reading methods are slower, but they
will help you select material to learn as you
read.
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Key Chapter Points
3.
continued
Self-talk is perhaps the most important
factor in learning.



Self-talk guides your determination as well
as the direction you take with your study.
Your self-talk can help you avoid study or
motivate you to study.
It can direct how you will study and how
much you will study.
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
Success is more than just showing up!
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.
I am still
learning.
—Michelangelo
Copyright © 2010 by Tapestry Press, Ltd.