Chapter 6 Boosting Your Memory and Preparing for Tests

Chapter 6

Boosting Your Memory and

Preparing for Tests

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 6 - 2

Five Theories of Forgetting


Five Theories of Forgetting (Cont)


Five Theories of Forgetting (Cont)


Strategies to Combat Forgetting Due to Decay

Be alert and ready to learn. Give your undivided attention.

Make learning your intention. Set a learning goal.

Begin thinking about, working with, or associating information.


Strategies to Combat Forgetting Due to Displacement

Slow down the intake process. Allow time to think.

Use spaced practice. Avoid cramming.

Pause between new pieces or chunks of information so your mind has time to consolidate and integrate information.

Select an environment conducive to learning.

Free up your working memory from anxiety or intrusive thoughts.


Strategies to Combat Forgetting Due to Interference

Take time to compare two or more items for similarities.

Take time to compare two or more items for differences.

Provide a break between studying difficult or complex topics.


Strategies to Combat Forgetting Due to Incomplete Encoding

Use elaborative rehearsal techniques.

Avoid using rote memory.

Use self-quizzing and feedback strategies.

Strive to maintain your focus and have undivided attention when you rehearse.


Strategies to Combat Forgetting Due to Retrieval Failure

Create and practice associations.

Use clear structures or formats to organize information in logical, meaningful ways.

Use ongoing review to practice activating information from LTM.

Put yourself in retrieval mode.

Reconstruct your learning situation (how, when, where).


Mnemonics

Mnemonics are memory techniques or memory tricks that serve as a bridge to help you remember specific facts or details that for one reason or another are difficult for you to remember.


Advantages to Using Mnemonics


Disadvantages to Using Mnemonics


Kinds of Mnemonics

Associations

Pictures and graphics

Acronyms and acrostics

Rhythms, rhymes, and jingles

Stacking

Loci

Peg systems


Human Body Peg System


Rhyming Peg System


Number Shape Peg System


Essential Strategies for Test Preparation

Review your course syllabus and class assignment sheets.

Find out as much information as you can about the test.

Use a five-day study plan to prepare for tests.

Review study tools you created for factual information.

Review procedural information by reworking steps or problems.

Make summary notes of information you want to review for the day before the test.


Essential Strategies for Test Preparation (Cont)

Participate in review sessions.

Create a study group if a review group is not available.

Plan to review the night before a test and an hour or so on the day of the test.

Predict test questions; write and answer practice test questions.

Deal with sources of test anxiety before the day of the test.


Preparing for Different Kinds of Questions

1. Find out about the test

2. Predict test questions

3. Write and answer practice test questions


Bloom's Taxonomy


Bloom's Taxonomy (Cont)


Bloom's Taxonomy (Cont)


Test Anxiety

Stress is a reaction or response to events or situations that threaten to disrupt your normal pattern or routine.

Anxiety is excessive stress that hinders performance.

Test anxiety is anxiety that may occur before or during a test.


Symptoms of Test Anxiety

Physical symptoms

Emotional symptoms

Cognitive symptoms

Behavioral symptoms


Sources of Test Anxiety

How could you reduce test anxiety that stems from these sources?

• Underpreparedness

• Past experiences

• Fear of failure

• Poor test-taking skills

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Chapter 6 Boosting Your Memory and Preparing for Tests