Have you ever wondered if mnemonics and memory techniques are for everyone?
Or maybe they just didn't feel right for you?
Here's the thing:
They might not be.
That's just one of the unexpected answers you'll hear in this podcast and read below. Let's get started with a wonderful letter I received from a student in the Netherlands:
Let me introduce myself. I am Timo, a Dutch high school student. Nowadays I am preparing for my finals, but besides that I am also working on a final paper about the human memory. To be honest, last year I failed to pass my exams, so I decided to learn differently this year. During my summer vacation, I came across your website. While listening to your podcasts, I realized that this would be the best way to learn for me. That I eventually picked out this subject for my paper was a coincidence.
Back to the story. The last months I have read many books and scientific articles about the method of loci (or the Magnetic Memory Method). There are not many articles about this matter. These articles suggest that the method of loci is an effective way, but they are written by psychologists. Most of them are sceptic to use this in classrooms. You are, on the other hand, the expert for teaching this method to students. I assume that you use this method almost every week.
My practical part of my paper is an experiment with high school students. (This is required in The Netherlands.) Last week I finished teaching them the basics and how to apply the method to a list of random facts and vocabulary words. Now they are preparing to make a test, which I prepared. A university researcher helps me to process the data from these test results. However, I met some resistance with some of the students. They think that this is too time consuming. The teachers are, however, enthusiastic about my research. They want to know more about this subject.
Therefore I am considering writing a much shorter paper for all the teachers to explain my findings. Assuming that you are the only one, who gives these kind of courses, could I ask you humble opinion. Most of the books and articles do not give a clear answer, whether or not this method is effective on large classes and is better for the knowledge of the student (long-term memory). So here are my questions:
Is the Magnetic Memory Method a skill that everyone can develop?
No. The Magnetic Memory Method, any mnemonics or set of memory techniques are exclusive to a particular kind of person.
First, the person must be open to experimentation and implementation.
These personal characteristics appear not to be present in everyone. They require learning a set of tools that must be used in order to truly understand them.
Think of a computer keyboard, for example. Anyone can look at the keyboard and understand a description of what it is supposed to do. But without putting their fingers on the keys and learning to press the keys to produce words, words will never form.
And the exciting thing about typing is that, once you've started learning it, you can learn to write very fast. Not only that, but you've become so familiar with the keyboard that you can type entire books without even looking down at the keys or your fingers.
Memory techniques are like that, especially if you're using Memory Palaces. The Memory Palace is a kind of keyboard you build yourself based on a manual like the Magnetic Memory Method. The information you want to memorize forms the keys and the associative-imagery are the sentences you write on the paper of your imagination.
And of course, no one types an entire book without making mistakes. But editing is a minor feat and quickly accomplished simply by scanning the record and compounding your associative-imagery or making the necessary changes.
Published on 10 years, 1 month ago
If you like Podbriefly.com, please consider donating to support the ongoing development.
Donate