University will push you to your limits: you’ll have too much to remember, in too many courses. Mindless repetition won’t work anymore. Cramming certainly won’t do it. You have to find techniques and strategies. We can help.
One method to aid your recall is called the Memory Palace Technique. It was originally used in ancient Greek and Roman times. It’s still used today, by many high-achieving students, and, in fact, by Memory World Championship award winners. In this method, you choose a location, the inside of a familiar house, for example, a street you know well, any location that you can fully visualize, and you “place” the information you need to recall in that familiar territory. You then “walk through” your location when you want to remember the information. Pairing hard to recall information with familiar visual cues helps retrieval in unbelievable ways.
Here’s how to use the technique:
The Memory Palace is just one technique to help you to remember. There are many more. Find the techniques that work best for you, and that work best for each particular subject. Prep101 can help.
One method to aid your recall is called the Memory Palace Technique. It was originally used in ancient Greek and Roman times. It’s still used today, by many high-achieving students, and, in fact, by Memory World Championship award winners. In this method, you choose a location, the inside of a familiar house, for example, a street you know well, any location that you can fully visualize, and you “place” the information you need to recall in that familiar territory. You then “walk through” your location when you want to remember the information. Pairing hard to recall information with familiar visual cues helps retrieval in unbelievable ways.
Here’s how to use the technique:
- Choose a location for your palace. Your location should be one that you’re very familiar with, and that you can picture in some detail. Some people choose the library in which they study. Others choose their bedroom or childhood bedrooms. Still others choose streets populated with buildings, businesses and houses. Find a place that you really know, bonus marks for finding one that makes you comfortable and happy as well.
- List the features of the location. Start by closing your eyes, and picturing your “palace.” Walk through it, and list all of its features to yourself. Take time with all the furniture, pictures, windows, trees, any distinguishing features it might have.
- Walk through your location, from feature to feature. Choose a path; it should be a familiar route. This will be your walk-about route for the duration of the exercise, from the beginning, in which you place the information to be memorized, to its use, when you retrieve the information. “Walk” through your route several times.
- Place something to be remembered on each feature. Now, you’re ready to get to work. Walk through your “palace” again, this time putting one thing to memorize on each of its features. Walk through several times. Now, each time you think about the information being memorized, you should pair it with its location. Create as strong visual associations as possible.
- Walk through your memory palace often. Walk through your memory palace, always along the same route, to “visit” the information. Don’t wait until the night before the test to start. Create your memory palace early, and walk through it often. The more often you visit the palace, and its stored information, the stronger the neural pathways created, the stronger the associations will be in your mind.
- Create many memory palaces. This technique is a powerful one because it can be used often, and it’s not tedious to do. Try many memory palaces for many different types of information.
The Memory Palace is just one technique to help you to remember. There are many more. Find the techniques that work best for you, and that work best for each particular subject. Prep101 can help.
