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Memory Aids: Recalling Important Facts

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By the end of this topic, you will be able to: • Understand how information can be “chunked” in order to

retain more information • Practice chunking information to aid memory

Memory Aids Topic One - Chunking

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Introduction to Chunking

What is Chunking?

Chunking is grouping information (such as ideas, words, or numbers) together so it can be stored and processed as a single concept.

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People can typically only remember 5 to 9 pieces of information (7 ± 2) in short-term memory. Chunking stores bits of information together to make them easier to remember.

Information chunks are seen as a whole, rather than as distinct pieces of information.

How Chunking Works

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Practice Chunking Information

How can you make the following list of words into a sentence or phrase to make them easier for you to remember?

chair ACT time pencil clock

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Practice Chunking Information

How did you chunk these words? Remember: there are no right or wrong answers!

chair ACT time pencil clock

I looked at the clock and saw it was time for the ACT. I grabbed my pencil and took a seat in my chair. I held onto my #2 pencil and sat in a chair near the clock during the ACT. I didn’t want to lose track of time!

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Using Chunking

Taking advantage of chunking as you practice for the ACT can help you remember related concepts and ideas.

Creating a phrase like, “supplements are bigger than complements” to remember supplementary angles (2 angles whose sum is 180 degrees) vs. complementary angles (2 angles whose sum is 90 degrees)

What are some ideas for using chunking to help with ACT preparation?

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Chunking: Wrap-Up

Chunking can help you retain more information by taking distinct pieces of information and making them into one whole. You can create your own “chunks” that are meaningful for you to remember. In the next module, we will explore other memory aids to find out what works best for you.

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By the end of this topic, you will be able to: • Understand mnemonic techniques used to help you retain

information • Practice using a mnemonic strategy

Memory Aids Topic Two – Mnemonic Strategies

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Introduction to Mnemonic Strategies

Mnemonic strategies are memory devices that can help us learn larger or unfamiliar pieces of information.

They work well for information that is in a particular sequence or order.

What is one mnemonic device you've used before?

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Common Mnemonic Strategies

Acronym: A word or term is created from the first letter of each item that you need to remember.

Acronym Example: The term “PEMDAS” stands for the order of operations in mathematics: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction

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Common Mnemonic Strategies

Acrostic: A complete sentence or series of words in which the first letter of each word stands for something you need to remember

Acrostic Example: “Apple pies are square and cherry pies are too” stands for the equations to find the area and circumference of a circle (A = πr2, C = 2πr )

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Common Mnemonic Strategies

Image Mnemonics: A picture of the information you need to remember Image Mnemonics Example: Picture a slope with the words “rise over run” to remember that the vertical change goes on top of the equation, and the horizontal change goes on the bottom: Slope = y2 -y1 / x2 - x1

Slope = rise/run

run

riseRise y2-y1

Run x2-x1

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Common Mnemonic Strategies

Windowpane Strategy: Graphics placed in sections of a window to represent sequences of information you need to remember Windowpane Strategy Example: Picture graphics that represent the steps of the scientific method in each section of the window

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Common Mnemonic Strategies

Mind Maps: A diagram used to visually organize information and help you remember ideas related to a main concept Mind Map Example: Data representations and types of representations (histograms, line graphs, tables, bar graphs, scatterplots, etc.).

Representations of Data

Bar Graphs

Histograms Scatterplots

0

5

A B C D

Bar Graph

0

5

0 5 10

Scatterplot Pie Chart

A B C D

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Your Turn! Practice Using Mnemonics

Quick lesson: Do you know basic trigonometric functions? (Hint: you should know this for the ACT!)

Here they are in order:

- Sine = Opposite Side / Hypotenuse - Cosine = Adjacent Side / Hypotenuse - Tangent = Opposite Side / Adjacent Side

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Your Turn! Practice Using Mnemonics

Using one of the mnemonic strategies, create your own to help you remember the basic trigonometric functions. Try to come up with something that you will remember. What works for others might not work for you, and vice versa.

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Mnemonic Devices: Wrap-Up

Match the mnemonic device to the information you are trying to remember—different mnemonics work better for different kinds of information. Acronyms and Acrostics = Information in a specific order Image Mnemonics and Windowpanes = Visual learners Mind Mapping = More complex ideas

Try different techniques to find out what works best for you!

Use humor and vivid imagery, just make sure it is somehow clearly connected to the information you are trying to remember.