Memory Activity - Essay Example

1. The volunteer remembers more words from List A than from List B.

They have mnemonic techniques to remember the words, one of which is by using rhythm and songs. They put a melody on the words so that they could memorize it easily. They replace the lyrics with the words using an easy rap song.

I do not think that their memory will exceed short-term memory capacity for the chunking information, since I ask them to look at it for only one minute and so this will only last for a few seconds to a minute or the exact amount of time which may vary somewhat. Short-term memory is needed to retain ideas and thoughts but not for so long.

2. From List A, they recall 17 out of 20 items while for List B they only recall about 12 items.

They didn’t organize or grouped the lists in any way to help them remember and explain, they memorized it as it is.

3. A specific mnemonic used in K-12 is the Visual mnemonic.

An example of a mnemonic that could be used to remember some information for the final exam in this class could be the verbal mnemonic strategy which includes the use of acronyms, rhymes, and the more complex coding method (for memorizing numbers) and the story method (the verbal equivalent of the linking mnemonic). The alphabet technique could also be of help, in this strategy, you need to identify a word that begins with the same sound as each letter in the alphabet and then associate the word’s image with the item to be remembered.

4. Examples of how to use the information on pages 292-293
   Pay attention
   You can’t remember something if you never learned it, and you can’t learn something if you don’t pay enough attention to it.
   No multitasking when you need to concentrate, if you distract easily, try to receive information in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.
   Encode information in more than one way
   You can encode information according to its sound (acoustic code), what it looks like (visual code), or what it means (semantic code).
   Encoding information in an elaborate, meaningful way helps in retention. When possible convert verbal information into mental images, when learning about events and facts, try to focus on their meaning rather than their superficial characteristics.
   Add meaning
   It is easy to memorize something when you know the meaning of it. When memorizing poems or lyrics, try to get the meaning of each and every line.
   Another example is when you are memorizing numbers, it is easy to memorize letters or words than numbers, put some codes in your number to have some meaning, for example, 5=L (because there are five fingers on our left hand). 
   Take your time
   It takes time to fully memorize everything that is needed to memorize. For example, you are about to memorize 20 words, divide it by 5, memorize every 5 items one at a time until you can remember all of them without looking, then memorize the next group, and so on.
   Take your time in memorizing because patience is a virtue especially if you are going to memorize lone lines.
   Take time out
   Our brains need also to rest to function very well. Study at night and get plenty of rest after so the brain will regenerate and will be ready for the exam the next day.
   Resting for 30 minutes when memorizing is a must so overloading will be avoided.
   Over learn
   Review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it and at intervals thereafter.
   What researchers call “spaced rehearsal” is more effective than “cramming.” If you’re able to “over-learn” information so that recalling it becomes second nature, so much the better.
   Monitor your learning
   Monitoring your learning is important to assess of how you excel in memorizing. Do this every after you memorize, jot down everything that you know and learned, in this case.
   When memorizing poems, close your eyes and try to recite those few lines to know what you can do and what you need to be able to do next.