Long Term Memory Strategies

Three Stages of Memory

Sensory Memory

• Paying attention
• Skimming
• Looking for words that sum up information
• Focusing on ideas with as many senses as possible

Working Memory

• Organizing new and old information into meaningful chunks
• Relating material to self
• Using mnemonics
• Grouping similar ideas
• Linking across ideas
• Using images, colors, spatial arrangement
• Paraphrasing
• Summarizing
• Creating concept maps

Long Term Memory

• Using a distributed review plan
• Self-testing regularly
• Applying information to problems and situations
• Overlearning

Principles for Long Term Memory Success

1. Organize your study/review plan.
2. Determine stronger and weaker topics.
3. Distribute your review. (See sample distributed practice plan.)
4. Organize material into 5 - 7 chunks.
5. Use a variety of techniques and alternate them.
6. Relate the material to yourself and your own experience.
7. Relate concepts to each other across topic areas.
8. Have group review sessions that are pre-planned and organized.
9. Test yourself regularly.
10. RECITE - Recitation is the single most effective way to increase long term memory.