Master your memory capability
By Celia In Training On October 15, 2014
I’m often asked how I remember information when I deliver product and therapeutic training. “You must have a photographic memory.” The simple answer is “No, unfortunately, I don’t; however, I’ve learned to harness my memory capability. “ My five tips for retaining new knowledge are:
- Always allow time to learn new material: You retain new information by revising material in different ways over a period of time. Always get a good night’s sleep. Knowledge is cemented in your long-term memory over night. By reviewing information repeatedly, you glean new pieces of information you missed the first time round.
- Use a variety of techniques to master concepts: Useful techniques for retaining knowledge in your long-term memory include taking notes, drawing a mind map, relating information to what you already know, creating stories, analogies or memorable images and developing acronyms and mnemonics to recall key facts.
- Practise out loud: An effective way to retain information is to verbalise it out loud. This forces you to concentrate on what you’re saying and re-word or clarify information that is unclear.
- Teach others: The best method to retain 90% of what you learn is to teach someone else. Reading information is not the same as learning. To learn material you must actively “do something with the information”, such as analyse, interpret, discuss, apply or implement the knowledge. One of the best ways to see if you have interpreted, understood and mastered the concepts is to communicate the subject in your own words to someone else.
- Learn from mistakes: Have you ever read something and thought you’d grasped the concepts, but when asked to translate your understanding you weren’t 100% correct? It is not until you implement what you know that misconceptions, or gaps in your understanding, become apparent. Ultimately, through trial and error you become aware of what you don’t know, or thought you knew but were mistaken. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Without making mistakes you may never truly learn.
Email your tips for retaining new knowledge to celia@bioscript.com.au. 😀