Encoding is the process of getting information into the memory system in your brain. You are constantly encoding information every second, with billions of neurons firing in your brain to make this happen. The question of if you remember that information though, is dependent on many things. Were you paying close attention? Were you actively thinking about what you were perceiving? Did the situation remind you of anything you previously remembered? All these questions and more will play into if you remember that moment in time distinctly. This can be related directly to studying and the usefulness of the study cycle. Before coming to college, I never had much of a reason to study as I miraculously did well in all of my classes. Coming to college and having to straight up learn how to study is tough, and there are many things that factor in to if you are studying correctly and in a way that will prove useful to you. I’m in the drumline for the Penn State Blue Band, and there’s a lot of music I have to learn and memorize for every show we do. When it comes down to it, memorizing music isn’t much different than studying. If I sit down with the goal of memorizing the music, it simply will not happen. However, if my goal is to learn to play each rhythm perfectly, to get the right tone out of the drum, or to improve my technique, then memorizing is no problem. Think about how that kind of thing can apply to studying. Sitting down and only trying to memorize your notes is just not effective. In order to get good results from studying, you have to put active thought into the information you want to learn. Just like learning music, repetition is key. You have to study consistently over the course of the week in order to really be on top of your classes. It’s short and to the point, but studying effectively really isn’t that complicated. You just have to have a goal to reach, and actively try and reach it.
Tag: memory
Memory in school
I have recently joined a club at Penn State that requires me to memorize lots of information about the club that I am quizzed on it each week. I must write the information word for word and they are very and complex long terms and definitions. I knew this would be a challenge and I was very worried at first. But, Dr.Wedes mini lesson on how to study more effectively came at the most perfect time for me.
Dr.Wede talked about two strategies that will successfully help you commit certain information from your short term memory to your long term memory. Short term memory holds a few items for a short period of time and long term memory is relatively permanent and has limitless storage. The two strategies we discussed in class were 1) distributed practice and 2) retrieval practice.
To help me remember the information that was on these quizzes I practiced one definition each day. I spaced out my learning so I did not have to cram all of the definitions in at once. I also practiced retrieving the information by saying it aloud and writing it down whenever I had free time. I also made connections to help me remember using elaborative rehearsal. Elaborative rehearsal happens when information from short term memory is transferred into long term memory by making the information meaningful. This can be done by relating the information to prior knowledge and making it personal. I would make up a story or an event that went along with the definition which helped me retrieve the information. Lastly, I had intense study sessions where I would focus on one definition at a time for a few minutes then take a break and try to retrieve it. I would write the information on paper going by memory. I was able to space these study sessions out so I was effectively making connections with each definition so I would not get mixed up.
Dr.Wedes helpful methods really improved my performance with these weekly quizzes that once gave me so much anxiety. I can now effectively study the terms and I actually still remember all of them even two weeks later!
Mood = memory
When we talked about emotions effecting memories in class, it really stuck with me. I didn’t realize that this actually had a name, mood congruence. This phenomenon is described as mood having a direct effect on memories able to be retrieved. In the past, I have noticed that when I am in a bad mood or feeling particularly negative I can only remember negative memories. Ones where I knocked on the rugby ball in and important game, missing tackles, failing exams and quizzes. I get stuck in a rut of perpetual negativity. But once I get back to a happy and positive mood all of the types of memories change. They go back to when I scored a winning try in a game, got A’s on exams, having great adventures with my friends. My mood and the outside world directly effect which memories I’m able to access. Some of these are mood dependent memories, where I can recall memories depending on my mood, but some of these are mood congruent where it is easier to recall memories when I feel a similar way to how I felt when the memory developed. Emotions effect memories greatly and can effect how many and which are able to be retrieved. This is something I have to keep in mind in the future as some memories may continue to put me down on hard days and I have to remember that they are temporary and only feel so prevalent because of my current mood.