How to Improve Your Memory: Guidelines and Resources
Copyright Carter McNamara, Authenticity Consulting, LLC
Sections in This Topic Include
- What is Memorizing?
- Concerns About Memorization as a Learning Technique
- Test Your Memory
- How to Improve Your Memory
Also consider
- Concentration
- Creative Thinking
- Critical Thinking
- Mindfulness
- Mindsets
- Reframing
- Systems Thinking
- Strategic Thinking
- Related Library Topics
What is Memorizing?
Memorizing is learning information by working to commit it to memory. It is one of the most common forms of learning, especially in an educational setting.
Many of us think of memorizing a being the same as learning by repetition. The latter is technically referred to as rote learning. However, there are other techniques to help us memorize information.
One of the most familiar is using flashcards. A common process is to show a word or a question to the learner and then ask the learner to describe or answer it. The correct answer is usually listed on the back of the card, so the person posing the card can share the correct answer with the learner as needed.
Another memorization technique is the mnemonic in which the learner associates the information to be remembered with a word or phrase that is easier to remember. A typical example is to remember all of the Great Lakes in the United States by remembering the word “homes”, which includes the first letter of
the lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior.
Most of us know what memorizing is, but to truly understand it, it is important to compare it to similar, but different, words. That understanding helps us to appreciate memorizing, but also to know its limits. For example, how does memorizing compare to knowing?
Concerns About Memorization as a Learning Technique
Despite how common memorizing is as a technique for learning, it is criticized because memorizing information is not necessarily understanding that information. Perhaps memorization can be an initial phase of coming to understand information.
- Memorizing versus Understanding
- In Defense of Memorization
- Memorization is Not a Dirty Word
- When Memorization Gets in the Way of Learning
- The 10 Problems of Memorizing Words
Test Your Memory
How good are you at memorizing? Take this test.
The following articles provide suggestions for improving your memory.
How to Improve Your Memory
As with any skill, it takes practice. First, you get new information about how something could be done and then you practice applying that information.
- 12 Secrets for Memorizing Things Easily
- The Two Most Efficient (and Two Least Efficient) Memorization Strategies
- The Secret to Memorization
- How to Improve Your Memory
- 14 Natural Ways to Improve Your Memory
- 6 Science-Backed Methods to Improve Your Memory
Also consider
- Adult Learning
- Concentrating
- Continuous Learning
- Learning in Courses
- Defining Learning
- Group Learning
- How to Study
- Key Terms in Learning
- Improving Your Learning
- Improving Your Thinking
- Learning Styles
- Memorizing
- Mindsets – How You See the World
- Online Learning
- Self-Assessments
- Self-Reflection
- Test Preparation
- Taking Tests
- Types of Learning
- Using Study Guides
Learn More in the Library’s Blogs Related to Personal Development
In addition to the articles on this current page, also see the following blogs that have posts related to Personal Development. Scan down the blog’s page to see various posts. Also see the section “Recent Blog Posts” in the sidebar of the blog or click on “next” near the bottom of a post in the blog. The blog also links to numerous free related resources.
For the Category of Personal Development:
To round out your knowledge of this Library topic, you may want to review some related topics, available from the link below. Each of the related topics includes free, online resources.
Also, scan the Recommended Books listed below. They have been selected for their relevance and highly practical nature.