concentration memory

8/9/2019 Concentration Memory

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Academic Resource Center

Study Skills:Concentration/Memory

Contact:

Angie S. Pickens, MA

University of North Alabama

Coordinator, AcademicResource Center

[email protected]


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Remember-----

When you are trying to memorize facts or

material:

Study the most important information firstMake sure you understand WHAT you are

trying to memorize. If you do not understand

the materialSTOP and clarify or define

what you need to know. If you do not

understand it, chances are it will be more

difficult for you to memorize it.


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You may be unable to concentrate

due to distractions:External

noise, radio, TV, phone calls, improper or

uncomfortable study environment,unforeseen events

Internalstress, worrying about grades, not focused,

anxiety, too many other things to do, did not

get enough rest


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Not studying in the right environment:

o Try a distraction free environment ( examples: no TV,

no radio, no music, no cell phone, no noisy people)

o Be comfortable. Uncomfortable furniture may reduce

concentration. (It is not a good idea to study in bed

it is easier to nod off there)

o Reduce possible stress. It is not a good idea to study

around other people that are stressing out about their

own studies.

Lack of Concentration could be due to:


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Make a commitment

M

ake the task at hand personalTake the task seriously

Make a detailed plan to finish it

Dont procrastinate


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Tips for improved concentration:

Get plenty of rest and eat well.

(concentration is more difficult if you are

tired or hungry)Be a good manager of your time

Free your mind of preoccupied thoughts.

When trying to concentrate, it is best to doso with a free and clear mind.

Focus strictly on the task that needs to be

completed.


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Tips for improved concentration,

(continued)If you feel your attention drifting away from

the task, just simply say to yourself STOP!

This helps to bring your focus back to where itneeds to be.

Stay positive! Concentration loss tends to lead

to negative thinking.


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Remember:

Students with better study methods and

strategies score higher on their exams.

Every student is different. What works best

for you, may not work well for someone else.

The following memory methods/strategiesare suggestions. We hope you can improve

your study habits, concentration and

memory.


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Memorization Strategies:

Acronym

Acrostic

Chunking

Repeating

Rhymes & Songs


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Acronym:

According to Merriam-Webster online, an

acronym is a word (as NATO, radar, or laser)

formed from the initial letter or letters of each

of the successive parts or major parts of acompound term; also : an abbreviation as FBI

Example: SCUBA is an acronym which stands

forSelf-ContainedUnderwaterBreathingApparatus

(Acronyms work well when you need to memorize

facts)


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Can you remember this list of words?

(you have 1 minute)

boy lemon under egg

behind over analyze timid


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This time---try using the acronymBLUE BOAT.

boy lemon under egg

behind over analyze timid

(you have 1 minute)


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Acronym examples: NFL = National Football League

LSAT = Law School Admission Test

FBI = Federal Bureau ofInvestigation

IRS = Internal Revenue Service

PA = Environmental Protection Agency

FDA= Food & Drug Administration


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Acrostic example

You may heave learned this sentence to solve

mathematical equations:

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally

This acrostic tells you to do the followingfunctions in this order:

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication,

Divide, Add, Subtract


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Chunking

Chunking is one of the more commonly used

mnemonic techniques especially when memorizing

numbers. It is based on the idea that short term

memory is limited in the number of things that canbe contained. A common rule is that the average

person can remember 7 (plus or minus 2) items in

short term memory. When you use chunking to

remember numbers, you decrease the number ofitems you are holding in memory by increasing the

size of each item.


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Chunking (continued)

Can you remember this 16 digit number?

20091776181215678

Now---try to break it down in groups of 4 numbers:

2009 1776 1812 5678

(this is called chunking!)


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Repeating

xample: An ice breaker game that has

everyone in the circle go round and say My

name is Sally and I like seashells. Then, the

next person would say Her name is Sally &

she likes seashells. My name is John and I like

jelly. Then the next person would have to

repeat all the people & items before he sayshis name & what he likes. This is an example

of the memorization strategy called repeating.


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Repeating (continued)

Once you are able to repeat about 5-6 items

in a row, then try adding an additional item

and so on. This strategy seems to work well

with all subjects.

Repeating can also be accomplished, when

you can teach the material to another person.

This makes you repeat the material in order to

tell them.


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Rhymes & Songs

xample: When you were young, you probably

memorized the Alphabet song to the tune of

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

According to www.brighthub.com: One type of

learning strategy that works well for many

students is creating songs or rhymes for

memorizing multiplication facts. Look at the

popular Schoolhouse Rock series. Many students

have learned their multiplication tables with

these catchy tunes.


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And

While you are studying and trying to

memorize information----Remember to

practice relaxation techniques which can be

reviewed in the Power Point presentation

titled Test Anxiety.

concentration memory

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