Study Skills Memory and Concentration Counselling Unit, UWI, Mona

Reading Effectively Using the SQ4R Method Survey Survey Question Question Read Read Recite Recite Record Record Review Review

Darn! I just forgot it ! You never forget!!!! “Forgetting” is either: The inability to recall stored information; The inability to recall stored information;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 Solution Review quickly Review quickly Take an active role in the learning process - become the traffic warden Take an active role in the learning process - become the traffic warden Do not take your eyes off the animal as it crosses from short-term to long-term memory Do not take your eyes off the animal as it crosses from short-term to long-term memory Review it as soon as it enters the long-term memory jungle Review it as soon as it enters the long-term memory jungle Wear a path in your memory Wear a path in your memory

Memory Techniques Organize it Learn from the general to the specific Learn from the general to the specific Make it meaningful Make it meaningful Create associations Create associations

Memory Techniques cont’d Use your body Learn it once, actively Relax Create pictures Recite and repeat Write it down

Use your brain Reduce interference Use daylight (whenever possible) Over learn

Use your brain cont’d U Use Mnemonics Distribute learning Be aware of attitudes

Memory Techniques cont’d Recall it Remember something else Remember something else Notice when you do remember Notice when you do remember Use it before you lose it Use it before you lose it

Remember, you never forget!

Concentration External distractions External distractions elements in your environment Internal distractions Internal distractions elements within you

Solutions Set aside a place for study and study only!!! Set aside a place for study and study only!!! - good lighting - ventilation - comfortable - area large enough to spread out

Divide your work into small, sub-goals - specific - manageable - reachable Establish rewards for accomplishments

Home Work r_student/10e/students/ r_student/10e/students/ r_student/10e/students/ r_student/10e/students/ asp asp asp asp

References Ellis, D. (1994) Becoming a Master Student (7th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co. Ellis, D. (2003) Becoming a Master Student (10th ed.) Rapid City, SD. Houghton Mifflin Co. The SQ4R Method of Study 01/10/03

Division of Student Affairs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Concentration – Some Basic Guidelines 02/08/2001 University of Waterloo Counselling Services. Concentration & Distraction 02/08/2001