Study SkillsStudy Skills

Memory and ConcentrationMemory and Concentration

Counselling Unit,UWI, Mona

Reading EffectivelyReading Effectively

Using the SQ4R MethodUsing the SQ4R Method SSurveyurvey QQuestion uestion RRead ead RReciteecite RRecordecord RRevieweview

Darn! I just forgot it !Darn! I just forgot it !

You never forget!!!!You never forget!!!!

““Forgetting” is either:Forgetting” is either: The inability to recall stored information;The inability to recall stored information;

or or Failure to store information in the first place.Failure to store information in the first place.

In the jungle there are animals, millions of them.The animals represent all the information in your memory.

Imagine what happens as a thought, in this case we'll call it an elephant, tramps across short-term memory and into the jungle. The elephant leaves a trail of broken twigs and footprints that you can follow.

The more well-worn the path, the easier it is to retrieve the thought. In other words, the more often the elephant retraces the path, the clearer the path becomes.

The more often you recall information, and the more often you put the same information into your memory, the easier it is to find.

The second picture you can use to your advantage is the picture of many animals gathering at a clearing—like thoughts gathering at a central location in the memory.

It is easier to retrieve thoughts that are grouped together, just as it is easier to find a herd of animals gathered in a clearing than it is to find one elephant.

Imagine releasing the elephant into the jungle, turning your back on it, and counting to 10. When you turn around, the elephant is gone. This is exactly what happens to most information we receive.

The SolutionThe Solution Review quicklyReview quickly Take an active role in the learning process - Take an active role in the learning process -

become the traffic warden become the traffic warden Do not take your eyes off the animal as it Do not take your eyes off the animal as it

crosses from short-term to long-term memorycrosses from short-term to long-term memory Review it as soon as it enters the long-term Review it as soon as it enters the long-term

memory jungle memory jungle Wear a path in your memory Wear a path in your memory

Memory TechniquesMemory Techniques

Organize itOrganize it

Learn from the general to the specificLearn from the general to the specific

Make it meaningfulMake it meaningful

Create associationsCreate associations

Memory Techniques cont’dMemory Techniques cont’d

Use your bodyUse your body Learn it once, activelyLearn it once, actively RelaxRelax Create picturesCreate pictures Recite and repeatRecite and repeat Write it downWrite it down

Memory Techniques cont’dMemory Techniques cont’d

Use your brainUse your brain Reduce interferenceReduce interference

Use daylight (whenever possible)Use daylight (whenever possible)

Over learnOver learn

Memory Techniques cont’dMemory Techniques cont’d

Use your brain cont’dUse your brain cont’d Use MnemonicsUse Mnemonics

Distribute learningDistribute learning

Be aware of attitudesBe aware of attitudes

Memory Techniques cont’dMemory Techniques cont’d

Recall itRecall it Remember something elseRemember something else

Notice when you do rememberNotice when you do remember

Use it before you lose itUse it before you lose it

Remember, you never forget!

ConcentrationConcentration

External distractionsExternal distractions

elements in your environment elements in your environment

Internal distractionsInternal distractions

elements within you elements within you

SolutionsSolutions

Set aside a place for study and study only!!!Set aside a place for study and study only!!!

- good lighting - good lighting

- ventilation- ventilation

- comfortable- comfortable

- area large enough to spread out - area large enough to spread out

Divide your work into small, sub-goalsDivide your work into small, sub-goals

- specific - specific

- manageable- manageable

- reachable - reachable

Establish rewards for accomplishmentsEstablish rewards for accomplishments

Home WorkHome Work

http://college.hmco.com/collegesurvival/ellis/master_http://college.hmco.com/collegesurvival/ellis/master_student/10e/students/student/10e/students/

http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/html/index.asphttp://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/html/index.asp

ReferencesReferences

Ellis, D. (1994) Ellis, D. (1994) Becoming a Master StudentBecoming a Master Student (7th ed.) Rapid City, (7th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.

Ellis, D. (2003) Ellis, D. (2003) Becoming a Master StudentBecoming a Master Student (10th ed.) Rapid (10th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co.

The SQ4R Method of StudyThe SQ4R Method of Studyhttp://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/asc/improve/study/http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/asc/improve/study/01/10/0301/10/03

Division of Student Affairs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Concentration – Some Basic Guidelineshttp://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/concentr.html 02/08/2001

University of Waterloo Counselling Services. Concentration &Distraction http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/Study/concentration.html02/08/2001