Using Encoding Smartly

When it comes to studying, understanding how encoding, working memory, and long term memory works is a key factor in learning to study smarter. Encoding, getting information into the memory system, has many forms, including automatic and effortful. Effortful processing requires mental effort, and involves working with the text to learn a concept. For me, I find using effortful processing to be a good way to understand material and retain it better. For instance, just reading over my notes (automatic) doesn’t usually help me when studying for tests because I just forget what I read soon after. However, with effortful processing, actively thinking information out and making connections to information enables me to better recall it because I’ve thought about it in a way I understand. Using visual imagery, creating mental pictures, is a useful form of effortful processing because A common way to study and learn information quickly involves maintenance rehearsal, repeating information over and over again. I do use this method to study for exams, but I often find that after the exam passes, I forget the information because it wasn’t stored in my long term memory. A better way to store information into LTM involves elaborative rehearsal, which is making information meaningful to convert it from STM into LTM. I find this the best way to study because I can relate the information to other information I already know, and make connections between them. For instance, when I’m studying for an exam, I’ll try to think of words or situations that interest me and relate to the information I’m studying. During exams, I can more easily recall information I made personal connections to through elaborative rehearsal rather than maintenance rehearsal.