Memory Techniques
Gary Millns
BPP Professional Education
Jersey
Tel: 01534 711811
Email: garymillns@bpp.com
Ingredients for good study habits
Course Content
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Introduction
How the Memory Works
What the Memory likes
Memory Techniques
-Peg test
-Linkage
-Journey Method
-Story Method
-Roman Room Method
• Speed Reading
• Mind Mapping
Objective
• At the end of this session you will be able to:
– Explain how the mind works
– Explain what the brain likes
– Demonstrate at least 3 different memory techniques
How’s your memory?
9. Brush
3. Stethoscope
8. Honey
5. Alley
2. Tree
6. Tile
4. Sofa
10. Toothpaste
1. Atom
7. Windscreen
You have 60 seconds to memorise these items
Effective Study
In school, were you ever taught anything about:
• Your brain, and how understanding its functions could help you
learn, memorise and think?
• How your eye functions when you are learning and about how
you can use this knowledge to your advantage?
• Concentration and how to maintain it when necessary?
• How to make notes and how and when to review them?
The Memory Fallacy
How good is your memory?
Does it get worse as you get older?
The memory is like a muscle: the more you use it the better it gets.
The more it is neglected, the worse it gets.
Adult learning – trained out of using imagination and less structured
It’s only worse if you allow it to be!!
You have a fantastic memory!
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Dreams
Surprise random recall
Perfect memory
Capacity of a brain cell
Penfield’s experiments
– Stimulating a past experience
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Configuration of brain cells
Near death experience
Photographic memory
1000 photographs
Results from memory
techniques
Reasons why people resist change
• Ability
– Can’t do it!
• Uncertainty
– Will it work?
• Loss of Control
– I’ve always done it my way!
• Different tasks
– Yes, it may be different
• More work
– More investment; Less work
Your Amazing Brain
How it works…
Walk through the woods
• Immediate Memory
• Short term memory
• Long term memory
Your Amazing Brain
A huge Telephone Exchange
Fundamental Principles
• Association
– Linking things together
• Eg Song from your holidays
• Imagination
– Using visualisations
• Eg Remembering a holiday
• Location
– Provide a context
• To differentiate between information
Your Amazing Brain
Your brain enjoys…
• Senses
– See; Hear; Taste; Touch; Smell
• Association
– Linking to something familiar
• Patterns
– Order; Regularity
• Wholeness
– Complete picture; Understandable
Learning Styles
• Visual
– Written information, notes, diagrams, pictures.
• Visual appeal.
• Auditory
– Spoken word. Listen and take notes later.
• Auditory clues and music.
• Kinaesthetic
– Touch and movement. Imitation and practice.
• Performing actions. Using tools.
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Let’s practice using your imagination!
James I
1603
What your brain enjoys
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Sensuality
Movement
Association
Sexuality
Humour
Imagination
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Number
Symbolism (£ %)
Colour
Order and sequence
Positivity
Exaggeration
SMASHIN’ SCOPE
Memory Techniques
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Acronyms
Peg Test – Number / Shape system
Linkage system
Journey system
Story Method
Roman Room Method
Major System
Acronyms
“A word formed from the initial letters of other words”
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BBC
NATO
BPP
SMASHIN’SCOPE
Exercise 1 – Peg test (Number/Rhyme)
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5.
Atom
Tree
Stethoscope
Sofa
Alley
6. Tile
7. Windscreen
8. Honey
9. Brush
10. Toothpaste
You have 60 seconds to memorise these items
Number/Rhyme or Number/Shape System
Exercise 2 – Linkage System
Wallpaper
Mountain
Skirt
String
Ice Cream
Scissors
Nail
Watch
Nurse
Plant
Power
Elephant
Jail
Mirror
Suitcase
Perfume
Safe
Melon
Mongrel
Engraving
Read through the list only once and then
see how many you can remember!
Exercise 3 - Journey System
Journey from BPP, Jersey to the Bus Station.
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Front door
KB
Scruffy Murphy’s
Atlantique Seafood Bar
The Cows
Hallmark cards
Soleil Levant
Dorothy Perkins
Boots
Remember these!
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toilet roll
oranges
toffee
petrol
nuts
6. bread
7. newspaper
8. wine
9. flowers
10. eggs
Journey Method
• 6 Activities of a HR Department
– Recruitment
– Pay and Benefits
– Training & Development
– Staff Satisfaction
– Social Events
– Release
Exercise 4a – Story method
• Close your eyes and visualise going through the actions as
the story is read out to you.
Exercise 4b - Story method
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Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
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Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Make a story out of these words
Exercise 5 – Roman Room method
• Objects or people in a room that you know
Eg: The Queen
President Obama
Madonna
Me
Dom / Res
Non Dom / Non Res
Non Dom / Res
Dom / Non Res
The Major Memory System
• Advanced Peg Test
• The system works by linking words to a number
system via the sounds that they make
• Learn the Peg and link associations to it
Remembering names
• Face Association
– Try to find an unusual feature to create an association with
their name
• Eg Someone else you know, rhyme or image
• Repetition
– Repeat name or ask for name to be repeated
• Use often (without over doing it!!)
• Exchange Business cards
• Make a note
Other Ideas
• Blank templates –
– Football Club; Fashion House
• Amalgamate techniques –
– Journey method / time line + Visualisations
• Practice your visualisations
– Let your imagination run wild!
• Incorporate into speed reading and mind mapping
Ingredients for good study habits
Objective
• At the end of this session you will be able to:
– Explain how the mind works
– Explain what the brain likes
– Demonstrate at least 3 different memory techniques
Memory Techniques
Thank you attending
Give it a go!!
Gary Millns
BPP Professional Education
Jersey
Tel: 01534 711811
Email: garymillns@bpp.com